2012 Hyundai Veloster view

It is a very early prototype of Hyundai Veloster asymmetric, a two-door sports coupe, which on one hand and one in the other. Hyundai thinks it could become the equivalent of the VW Scirocco, or Mini. A sort of halo model. It’ll go on sale autumn 2011 but we’ve been allowed a development drive of this early prototype in the UK, specifically to assess which direction the ride and handling should take. Power comes from a 1.6-litre petrol motor.

2012 Hyundai Veloster view 2

2012 Hyundai Veloster back

2012 Hyundai Veloster 2

Spesification of 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Top speed: 120mph (est); 0-62mph 9.8sec (est); Economy: 50.4mpg (tbc); CO2: 132g/km (tbc); Kerb weight: 1295kg (tbc); Engine: 4 cyls, 1591cc, petrol; Power: 138bhp at 6300rpm; Torque: 123lb ft at 4850rpm; Gearbox: 6-spd manual.
The low-speed ride, however, is on the harsh side. There are big vertical movements around town, with none of the suppleness we’ve come to expect in, say, Hyundai’s own i30.It’s the same at higher speeds, too; failing ever to quite settle. That can make the Veloster feel dynamic and agile, but our experience with, say, the Scirocco, Ford Fiesta Zetec S or Citroen DS3, is that decent handling doesn’t have to come at the expense of a sophisticated ride.Other cars, like the Mini Cooper, or Alfa Romeo’s Mito, do make the compromise, sacrificing comfort for a faux-agile feeling. With an ideal set-up the Hyundai Veloster wouldn’t.
At the moment the Veloster does, at times, feel agile. It responds quickly to small steering inputs, with limited roll angle, but a quickish roll rate. 2012 Hyundai Veloster base price  £19,000 (est).