The Auto Advisor Group: 2012 Hyundai Veloster

2012 Hyundai Veloster

by Bruce Hubbard

Bonnie Lynch

AUTO ADVISOR GROUP

The new Hyundai Veloster is the sixth new Hyundai in the last 24 months. The

Veloster is not a replacement for the Hyundai Tiburon which we enjoyed test

driving years past. It is not as powerful as the Hyundai Genesis Coupe but takes

some of the exterior lines for the subcompact coupe.

Veloster’s unique design Hyundai states takes inspiration from a high-performance sport bike. Veloster has distinctive black A-pillars that give the glass a motorcycle helmet visor appearance. In the front is an aggressive form of Hyundai’s signature hexagonal front grille, hood scoop detailing, and unique Hyundai-signature LED position lights. Optional packages add a chrome grille surround, piano black highlights, fog lights, and a massive panoramic sunroof.

The third door looks almost hidden. The handle to open is up high by the glass window.

We love the sculptured lines rear lights and the chromed exhaust of the new Hyundai Veloster. The design does cause blind spots so we had to get use to the side view mirrors for backing up and for lane changes.

The three door Hyundai Veloster is unique and unlike other subcompact coupes including the Honda CR-Z does offer rear seating. Entering is not a problem but when in the rear seats head room is minimal as is leg room.

The Veloster is a wonderful car for the youth market. Priced right offering both a hard top or upgraded with a nice sun roof. The subcompact coupe is the only vehicle I have seen in quite some time to have third door. The passenger third door offers easy access to the rear seats.

A large central knob operates the climate control system .

What the youth market will love is the telematics offered. Our testers has the seven inch LG touch screen that has navigation, Pandora, voice recognition, Bluetooth, and even ability to connect video games.

Blue Link Assurance provides a free introductory period of complementary core safety services. Just like On Star the Veloster with the Blue Link Assistance Automatic Crash Notification plus enhanced roadside assistance.

Blue Link Assurance provides a free introductory period of complementary core safety services including Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) and Assistance, SOS Emergency Assistance, and Enhanced Roadside Assistance.

Blue Link Essentials provides Voice Text Messaging, Remote Door Unlock / Lock, Remote Horn & Lights, Panic Notification, Remote Vehicle Start, Alarm Notification, Quick Tips, Location Sharing, Automated Diagnostic Trouble Code Notification, Maintenance Alert, Monthly Vehicle Report, Recall Advisor, Web Vehicle Diagnostics, Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, Vehicle Immobilization, Valet Alert, Geofence, Speed Alert, Curfew

Blue Link Guidance provides Turn-by-Turn Navigation, POI Search by advanced voice recognition system, POI Web Search & Download, Daily Route Guidance with Traffic Condition, Traffic, Gas Station Locations & Gas Prices, Eco-Coach, Restaurant Ratings, Weather

In profile the Veloster features “Fluidic Sculpture” character lines, muscular wheel arches, bodycolor door handles and mirrors, and wraparound headlights and taillights. Veloster comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels and offers two types of 18-inch wheels. The top-of-the-line 18-inch wheel comes with painted inserts, a segment first.

Veloster’s dynamic rear design has a distinctive glass hatch, dual centered chrome exhaust tips and black lower fascia that complements the assertive front fascia.

From the rear you can see three side doors and the large hatch to enter the trunk. Accessing the cargo area through the rear hatch must be done carefully according to Hyundai.. Hyundai has applied stickers warning about possible head injury in languages including English, Korean, and Arabic.

Inside, the center stack and controls resemble a sport bike fuel tank and incorporate an available push-button starter. The air vents are inspired by motorcycle tailpipes, while the floor console mirrors the seat of a bike. Metallic accents abound throughout the interior. Alloy pedals and a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are also available.

Rim of the Hyundai Veloster shown here show how they offer painted rims to match the color of the car.

In the digital age everyone wants to be connected to their electronics at all times, so Veloster comes standard with a multifunction seven-inch touch-screen display. At engine start-up, the screen comes to life with a Veloster image and a unique sound. There are three interface layouts the user can choose from.

Pandora internet radio is integrated into Veloster. The display screen has a Pandora icon to stream internet radio from an iPhone. Pandora can also be viewed on the display screen and songs can be given the familiar Pandora thumbs up or thumbs down. (By selecting the thumbs down icon that particular song will never be played again.)

The all-new Gamma 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is the smallest Hyundai engine to use Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI). GDI technology helps deliver highway fuel economy of 40 mpg, lower emissions and higher reliability.

“Gasoline-direct-injection technology allowed Hyundai engineers to create an engine that is powerful, fuel-efficient, and has fewer emissions,” said Hyundai American Technical Center Inc. (HATCI) powertrain director, John Juriga. “Despite its small size, it generates some big numbers, with both impressive horsepower output and 40 mpg on the highway.”

Through the use of GDI, the Gamma 1.6-liter engine delivers a peak output of 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and maximum torque of 123 lb.-ft. at 4,850 rpm. We all felt that the torque was inadequate. After market tuners with chips and more will probably be able to increase the horsepower and torque. Or if rumors are correct and Hyundai adds a turbo to the engine then we would be pleased.

The Chromed exhaust pipes shown above are good looking.

Hyundai’s commitment to making the Gamma engine extremely fuel efficient continues by pairing it with a standard six-speed manual transmission or an all-new, six-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission (DCT) developed by Hyundai.

The EcoShift DCT enables direct connection for high efficiency and uninterrupted torque transfer during shifts. Automatic transmissions lose power and fuel economy in the torque converter.

The EcoShift DCT also incorporates Hyundai’s Hillstart Assist Control (HAC). HAC is designed to minimize rolling backwards on steep ascents.

At just 2,584 pounds, Veloster is more than 400 pounds lighter than the Scion tC and more than 80 punds lighter than the Mini Cooper S. This priority on weight efficiency allows the Veloster to deliver a great combination of agility, performance, and fuel efficiency.

Veloster ‘s standard safety features for the sporty car segment. Veloster has a Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system which optimally manages ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and the Motor-Driven electric Power Steering (MDPS).

VSM works to control two effects. The first is when a driver accelerates or brakes on a split-mu surface (slippery on one side, dry pavement on the other) and the vehicle wants to pull in one direction. VSM detects this condition and sends a signal to the MDPS to apply steering assist. VSM counters the pull and automatically provides eight Newton meters of counter steering. VSM reacts the same way during sudden lane changes or fast cornering.

Veloster features six airbags—including dual front, front seat-mounted side-impact, and front and rear side curtain airbags.

Like many vehicles today the Hyundai Veloster does not have a standard spare tire. Instead it has a kit that will inflate the flat tire. So many manufacturers have stated to us they save weight and cost by offering only a repair kit. In addition they state that most customers have road side assistance. It is nice when they offer an optional spare tire.

The Veloster also features a state-of-the-art braking package. The package includes four-wheel disc brakes and an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) including Brake Assist, which provides maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected, and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), to automatically adjust the braking force to front and rear axles based on vehicle loading conditions.

Veloster is available with two audio systems. Standard is a 196-watt AM/FM/Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with six-speakers and iPod®/USB/auxiliary input jacks. A 450-watt Dimension Premium Audio system with eight speakers including an eight-inch subwoofer and external amplifier is available. An XM Satellite Radio interface is also integrated into the head unit and features channel logos and XM Data services, such as XM NavWeather^®, XM Stock Ticker and XM Sports Ticker.

Geofence offers similar security as we have seen with On Star