2012 Hyundai Veloster: This is How its Done, Honda

[YSSMAN]

As the resident American car guy around here, yeah, I wouldn't even try to compare '90s American cars to what Hyundai is producing now. For that matter, I don't even think it would be a reasonable comparison until nearly 2005. Yowzah!

I think the only reasonable complaint you could make about the interior materials in the Genesis Coupe is what the doors are made out of. Everything else is for the most part top-notch, and highly competitive against others in it's class.

 

[lalosoda]

no thanks. i'll stick with my 2009 honda fit. thank you very much.
i like all the cool features, but it looks like someone beat it with a butt ugly stick.
although, i do think hyundai has some great cars... i just wish their faces weren't so ugly.
i got to test drive the sonata and the new elantra, and loved them both.
but my wife (who is the one looking for a new car) wouldn't buy them because of their horrondous front end.

 

[niky]

The Genesis Coupe's interior is fully comparable to the current sports coupe class. Just about par with the better Japanese cars and better than the Americans.

The Genesis sedan interior is otherworldly for the price level.

 

[Jim Prower]

The Genesis Coupe's interior is fully comparable to the current sports coupe class. Just about par with the better Japanese cars and better than the Americans.

The Genesis sedan interior is otherworldly for the price level.

Completely wrong on the Coupe from my experience. It's really a mixed bag, about like General Motors, while the Mustang is better in every way, and the 370Z better than that.

Agreed about the GenSedan. It's BMW good.

 

[Lyvan]

I had problems to realize if the car looked exactly the same in both sides...that 3 door idea is a bold move...I have a coupe car, and a 3rd door would be soooo useful.
Like this car a lot, and Hyundai+Kia are going just in the right direction...

 

[eSZee]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/24/hyundai-veloster-to-start-at-17-300-undercuts-honda-cr-z-by-2/

It's a great time to be a fan of small cars, and Hyundai is nearly ready to add its 2012 Veloster into the marketplace. If you've been waiting for this one to appear in your local showroom, we've got some news for you. Hyundai Motor America President and CEO John Krafcik just tweeted that it's going to cost you $17,300 for a Veloster. Full pricing is due later this week, but that base price undercuts the Honda CR-Z, arguably its most natural rival, by over $2,000, while offering more room and the promise of 40 miles-per-gallon on the freeway.

While you're waiting for our first drive review, check out our First Ride of the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, where Krafcik himself piloted us around for a few miles. Is a base price of $17,300 enticing? Let us know what you think in Comments.

UPDATE: Hyundai has released full pricing/specifications on the 2,582-pound 2012 Veloster. Pricing is $17,300 plus $760 for destination charges. Major options include the paddleshift dual-clutch gearbox at $1,250; Style package with 18-inch alloys, panoramic roof, premium audio and leatherette ($2,000); and Tech Package with unique 18-inch alloys, navigation with rearview camera, proximity key and pushbutton start ($2,000 and requires Style pack). Quoted fuel economy figures are 28/40/32 mpg with the six-speed manual and 29/38/32 with the dual-clutch. Deliveries commence in September.

 

[Moglet]

That interior is horrible. It reminds me of the ridiculous angular design found in the Fiesta. Once again, it seems like a middle aged balding fat man in the design department thought "The kids like edgy stuff, let's make it 'youthful!" and then proceeded to fill the car with fail.

 

[Dan_]

I actually was planning on buying one and sent an email to a local Hyundai dealer, turns out the car is being sold here for US$42 grand. Out of question for a 1.6.

I like the styling though, the rear end resembles me the Renault Mégane.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I actually was planning on buying one and sent an email to a local Hyundai dealer, turns out the car is being sold here for US$42 grand.

Ouch.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I like the Veloster. Hyundai still get a bit of a bad rap after the Excel incident in the late 1990s, and there's a bit of a stigma attached to them - but I think I'd happily drive a Veloster.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> For the past few weeks me and my best buddy are are giving these local Hyundai dealerships (in Vegas and parts in L.A.) a headache on when the Veloster arrives. My buddy is seriously considering on buying it IN CASH!!!! And I can't wait to drive the Veloster after being impressed on driving the GenCoupe 3.8 Track, GenSedan 4.6, and the Sonata all motor.

 

[YSSMAN]

The price seems fair, but it looks like any kind of reasonable content is quite expensive. That seems very un-Hyundai. Still, it is a very clever package that deserves a look if you're in the market for a coupe(ish) vehicle.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Well, the first reviews of Veloster that I've found say that there's some niggles with the car, such as the sunroof trying to take off at autobahn speeds and rear hatch that couldn't be opened at all.. But that was an early unit. We shall see how the car is once the little hiccups have been fixed.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

^ There are many Euro reviews about the car, too bad I can't understand them all.

 

[eSZee]

The price seems fair, but it looks like any kind of reasonable content is quite expensive. That seems very un-Hyundai. Still, it is a very clever package that deserves a look if you're in the market for a coupe(ish) vehicle.

Hyundai isn't what they used to be. They used lower quality materials so they could charge less. Now they think they can charge a "premium" and I think in the end it will end up biting them.
The 2 hyundais I deal with regularly have to have recall work done to fix recall work. Both are early 2000's vehicles. They used extremely thin metal on rear suspension parts that rotted, and it seems they're using even thinner metal on the replacement parts.
I'm on the they have gotten much better quality wise bandwagon but I still have my doubts.

 

[Hugo Boss]

^ There are many Euro reviews about the car, too bad I can't understand them all.

They're all a bit of the same. You should buy it because of the looks and for a coupe it's pretty practical. It's also well equipped.

Don't buy it if you're looking for a drivers car. Engine doesn't impress and the tall gearing doesn't help performance. Poor fuel economy like every Hyundai and the steering is light and doesn't give much feedback. Also the rear axle is too soft. The rear end can catch some air if you take a hump in the road at high speed and the ESP is often needed to keep the back end in line. Tall people won't fit in it either, because the sunroof compromises the head room at the front.

All in all not too positive, but if you're looking for a comfy cruiser with original looks it could be the ideal car.

 

[eSZee]

Poor fuel economy like every Hyundai

Do the people at hyundai know the exact details of the EPA MPG tests? They get great numbers in those but when it comes to real world you get nothing close.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Its Pretty Popular around here .Styling concerned it really looks great on the road and those taillights at night look good too.I have seen alot of them and I am pretty sure this along side the Elantra will sell fantasticly good (atleast here anyway).

 

[Omnis]

ARK fixed it:

 

[JacoJa]

Don't forget the other two views. This looks amazing! 👍

WANT. Do want.

 

[Jim Prower]

No, no they haven't. That's a painting.

 

[Grayfox]

Don't forget the other two views. This looks amazing! 👍

That is the most uglyest thing i ever did see.

Wait scratch that calling it ugly is a complement, it is worse than ugly. even if it is an artist rendition.

 

[rb26x]

For some reason the headlights remind me of toyota's ft-86 concept. This car isn't too great looking, but with lowering, not-so-flashy paint and a decent stance, could be a hell of a lot more bearable.

As far as driving, stock it may not be very well equipped, but it kind of reminds me of an eg hatch or something, more power and aftermarket coils and the proper tuning could make it a fun car, autocross maybe? The lightness is the main reason I'm interested, as well as the price.

 

[Nuck81]

Turbo version next year, I'm already talking to my dealer about one.

Early Turbo Specs are 208 bhp. No word on performance but hopefully 0-60 is somewhere around 7 seconds.

Still can't decide on the manual or DC. I like the practicality of the manual, but having a flappy paddle gearbox would be pretty nifty and give it a high dollar feel. Also my fiance would be able to drive it.

Oh well, have a year to make up my mind....

 

[eSZee]

I doubt the hyundai flappy paddles would be in the same league as a GTI.
Does hyundai already have a car with a dual clutch box?

 

[Zenith]

The grey with neon colors has been done over plenty of times. It's losing its shock value.

 

[SuperShouden]

You know, when I saw the name "Veloster" I was thinking it was going to be a supercar...but...a stupid hot hatch? WTF kind of name is Veloster for a hot hatch? They should change the name to Speedy or something and save the Veloster name for something much, much faster...like the road going version of their Pike's Peak car.

 

[Nuck81]

I doubt the hyundai flappy paddles would be in the same league as a GTI.
Does hyundai already have a car with a dual clutch box?

Yes this is Hyundai's first DC.

Funny you mention the GTI, that's the other car I'm seriously considering, but the price difference and unique Veloster Styling is leaning me in that direction. BHP would be about the same. If only I could afford the new GTI R35

 

[niky]

Considering that most DC development is farmed out to specialists like Getrag and Borg-Warner, I doubt that there will be a significant difference between Hyundai and VW or Ford that isn't due to specific tuning.

In other words, they have a 50:50 chance of making it better or worse than VW.

 

[YSSMAN]

...If only I could afford the new GTI R35

Sadly, we're not getting the 35th Anniversary Edition in the US due to the complications with the actual release year of the original Rabbit GTI. Apparently we're supposed to get something, but they haven't said what. So, you're going to have to make due with the "wow, that's better than I had expected" R20.



In regards to the thread itself, I saw my first production Veloster on the road Saturday. It caught me off-guard, admittedly, because I thought it was a Focus at first. Its surprising, particularly when the blue paint did stand out quite a bit, and that even after seeing the car in Chicago, the visual cues really aren't that similar to the Focus.

We'll see if it catches on. It is sitting in a very competitive segment this fall.