Brenda Priddy's spy photogs shot some new details of Hyundai's new Veloster, including a better look at the grille, lower fascia, headlights, fog lights and the center-mounted exhaust outlets that appear cribbed from the Cadillac CTS Coupe.
"We first saw the Veloster concept back in 2007 at the Seoul Auto Show," Priddy says. "In July 2009, Hyundai America president and CEO John Krafcik told us that the Veloster be on sale sometime in 2011, but that the production car will look '70-80 percent' like the concept. He went on to say that the production Veloster could be thought of as a "four-passenger CRX," a car "you can take out and wring its neck and still get good mileage. Fun and economical, with a great power-to-weight ratio."
Power will come from either a 1.6L direct-injection gasoline engine, an inline-4, or the 2.0L version of Hyundai's new Theta II GDI engine. Both of the latter could be turbocharged. Base power should be around 140 hp, with the upmarket motor getting closer to 180-190 hp. A dual-clutch transmission could be offered as well, and the Veloster will ride on the same FWD platform as the Accent and Elantra. Watch for its official debut sometime in the first half of 2011.
Photos copyright Brenda Priddy & Company. Reuse or reproduction without copyright holder's consent is prohibited.