The Hyundai Veloster got off to a solid commercial and critical start in 2011, and while the eccentric hatchback has only been on the market for a few months, it’s already found its fair share of friends, outselling competitors like the Honda CR-Z and Scion tC straight away.
We can see why – Veloster offers a unique mix of cut-price mix of funkiness, utility, connectivity and efficiency. However, it’s also fair to say that its direct-injected 1.6-liter Gamma four-cylinder skews far more eco than sport. The Veloster’s 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque is enough to have fun on curvy roads if you’re really willing to stick your foot in it, but its performance is hardly neck snapping.
Given the three-door’s sporty styling, some have suggested that there’s a bit of a disconnect between the way the Veloster accelerates and the way it looks. Hyundai has apparently heard those barbs, and they’ve turned to forced induction for the answer. Enter the 2013 Veloster Turbo seen here, which rings up 201 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 194 pound-feet of torque from 1,750 rpm thanks to the addition of a twin-scroll turbo and a unique motor-actuated wastegate. Those power figures put it in the thick of the hunt with pricier performers like the Volkswagen GTI, not to mention the Honda Civic Si and Mini Cooper S, with a better weight-to-power ratio than any of them.
Visually, there will be no mistaking the Veloster Turbo for its normally aspirated kin – the new front end should make sure of that. While the Turbo retains the same headlamps and a similar overall form, Hyundai has replaced the standard car’s modest chrome-edged grille slot and lower fascia with a massive hexagonal opening for better breathing and rearview mirror intimidation. The gaping maw extends both above and below the bumper, and it’s bookmarked by a new set of foglights.
The profile of the Turbo remains largely unchanged, though there are new 18-inch alloys with flashes of chrome wrapped in Kumho Solus rubber. Out back, the Turbo gains LED taillamps and a pair of large round exhaust outlets that Hyundai promises are attached to a freer-flowing and more vocal exhaust (there’s a retuned intake manifold for a throatier sound, too). The pipes are surrounded by a new lower fascia with integrated diffuser and a pair of rather bizarre outboard reflectors. As the standard Veloster’s drivetrain is surprisingly quiet, we’re hoping that Hyundai has come up with something significantly more vocal for this higher performance model.
The Korean automaker isn’t releasing performance figures for the Turbo just yet, but with the standard Veloster routinely ringing up 60 miles per hour in the mid-to-high eight-second timeframe, we’re ballparking in the low sevens for the force-fed model. Despite the power bump, Hyundai says that the Turbo should still ring up fuel economy numbers of 27 city and 38 highway with the six-speed manual – figures comfortably ahead of its rivals.
Other changes include a quicker steering rack with meatier feel, although interestingly enough, Hyundai has left the standard car’s suspension alone. Inside, there’s a new Graphite Black interior with blue trim and special headliner graphics, plus with a new driver information display that relies on two TFT screens in the gauge cluster. Finally, the Turbo comes with standard heated seats with “Turbo” stitching on the backrests.
Interestingly, the Matte Gray paint seen here isn’t just a showcar shade – it’s Hyundai’s first foray into the world of shine-free finishes. It’s also the first application of this sort of paint that we can recall at anywhere near this price point.
Speaking of prices, we’re not quite sure what the Veloster Turbo’s MSRP will be, but the standard 2012 model starts at $18,075 delivered. A fair assumption is that the Turbo’s price will start somewhere in the very low 20s when it arrives this summer.
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