Given Hyundai’s past and present sporty cars everybody was looking forward to the latest model, the Veloster, and well here it is! The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is a coupe, except it isn’t! The car appears to be a hatchback at first glance but it has a much cooler profile. It also has three doors, but the rear hatch is now one of them.

Now your head must be hurting trying to understand this vehicle, let us explain! The Veloster is a three-door coupe with a one door on the driver side and two on the passenger side. And unlike Mazda RX8’s door which was rear-hinged, the Hyundai’s door is front-hinged so you don’t to open the passenger door first.  We’ve never seen anything like it, in fact we’ve never seen any car like this one. It is new!

Hyundai says they’ve taken inspiration fro super bikes in designing the Veloster. It 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.

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.

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.

The Veloster also features latest Hyundai technologies, such as the recently revealed at CES, the Blue Link connectivity system. It comes 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.

This awesome coupe is powered by the all-new Gamma 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is the smallest Hyundai engine to use Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI). It delivers an estimated peak output of 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and maximum torque of 123 lb.-ft. at 4,850 rpm and is guaranteed to return 40 mpg. The engine is mated an all-new, six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) developed by Hyundai to provide huge driving fun, specially with the sport tuned suspension consisting of The Veloster is fitted with a McPherson strut front suspension, coil springs, gas shock absorbers and a 24 mm diameter front stabilizer.

VELOSTER VERSUS ITS RIVALS