Hyundai's President and CEO John Krafcik has said before that a front-wheel-drive replacement for the Tiburon sport coupe will appear soon and be sold alongside the rear-wheel-drive Genesis Coupe. He has also said that the car would be similar to and possibly named for the Veloster concept the company showed at the 2007 L.A. Auto Show.
Well, now we know more.
In an exclusive Inside Line interview, Krafcik said the car will look 70-80 percent like the Veloster and will pack a surprise body style that will be a segment first. One look at the C-shaped backlight/sunroof on the concept (there's a rear shot after the jump) might be a good guess, but Krafcik would only say this: "It might be doors or a unique roof or something with the hatch. But it won't be like anything out there before in the small car segment."
And it will be a small car. Smaller, in fact, than the Kia Forte Koupe. "It's Accent-sized," according to Krafcik. "Think of it like a four-passenger Honda CRX," he said. "It'll be a little car you can take out and wring its neck and still get good mileage. Fun and economical, with a great power-to-weight ratio."
And then Krafcik got specific. "It'll be powered by a 1.6-liter four cylinder with direct injection making 140 hp. And it'll get over 40 mpg," he said. "There's just nothing out there right now with that kind of Eco-sport positioning." And there will be a standard screen in the dash for a high cool factor. "Screens are getting cheaper," Krafcik told us.
But what about the name? Will it really be called the Veloster? Krafcik said the name has not been decided, but Veloster, Tiburon and several other names are being considered.
Whatever it's called, Krafcik says it'll be at Hyundai dealers by the end of 2011.
dougtheeng says:
12:35 PM, 07/ 7/09
I like it. It'd be an interesting option.
fuhteng says:
12:44 PM, 07/ 7/09
That is an ugly UGLY vehicle. Good luck checking your blind spot. I'm curious what the final product will look like.
clarkma5 says:
12:49 PM, 07/ 7/09
That's pretty slick. I love the idea of it being so tiny AND sporty (hopefully properly sporty, and not just an economy car with big wheels).
dreston says:
01:00 PM, 07/ 7/09
Certain details of these radical designs are objectionable, yes. But just take a look at that wheel. The inside red highlight is great. It almost looks liquid in design.
e10rice says:
01:13 PM, 07/ 7/09
I could do without the rear end, but that front is pretty sweet. Now lets see what is left out in the final design. They always seem to be let downs. Why show us stuff and have us give feed back and not give us what we want (thats to all manufactures)? It always turns into a watered down look alike.
sabastian says:
01:41 PM, 07/ 7/09
Very cool. I wonder how it will compare with the Honda CRZ.
kingkhalas says:
01:49 PM, 07/ 7/09
It looks pretty cool as is right now.
powell_jr says:
02:46 PM, 07/ 7/09
I like the looks. It reminds me of a CRX (squatty/sporty coupe with great fuel mileage).
I like Hyundai. I hope they continue making cool innovative products at competitive prices.
estreka says:
03:08 PM, 07/ 7/09
CRX-like: +
Rear styling: big -
The front end looks ok, if a little Mazdaesque. We'll have to see how they price it.
satandust says:
03:18 PM, 07/ 7/09
I think a great handling car with high MPG could really help move people away from poor handling skinny tired cars such as a Prius or Civic Hybrid.
stovt001 says:
03:45 PM, 07/ 7/09
"CRX-like: +
Rear styling: big -
The front end looks ok, if a little Mazdaesque. We'll have to see how they price it."
+100000. Took the words right out of my mouth. Why does revolutionary styling have to mean poor visibility? Shouldn't we be looking for solutions to make life easier, not harder? Isn't that what "progress" is all about?
jederino says:
06:50 PM, 07/ 7/09
Love the idea of a good power/weight ratio and great fuel economy AND with seating for four.
I am thinking the doors with giant side windows will be the new feature, 'cause those are cool and could really open up the vehicle. I am not as impressed with the giant glass roof/hatch on the concept. It's ugly and impractical, as the trunk has ridiculously high lift-over. I much prefer a hatch design similar to the Volvo C30.
arumage says:
05:17 AM, 07/ 8/09
My guess is that the rear will be the 20-30% changed.
wgtp says:
06:44 AM, 07/ 8/09
They need to figure out a way to use the 2 liter turbo engine from the Genesis Coupe for a Hot Hatch competitor, like the Cobalt SS, STI, Evo, Mazdaspeed 3, etc...
flwind says:
07:26 AM, 07/ 8/09
Front end is HOT! Not crazy about the ass though. A rear end similar to volvo C30 (as mentioned above) but different tailights would make this car very desirable fro me. A turbo 4 option with say 200hp would be awesome.
mohatu says:
08:49 AM, 07/ 8/09
Looks like a 2-door squished Kia Soul.
conceptvbs says:
09:40 AM, 07/ 8/09
A turbo 2.0 T turbo would only increase weight, offsetting the increased power. So in the end, the power-to-weight ratio would be the same with the 1.6L 140hp.
wgtp says:
09:52 AM, 07/ 8/09
No disrespect, but for the power/weight ratio to stay the same, the weigth would have to increase by over a 1000lbs.
140hp - 2800lbs. (est.) = 20
200hp - 4000lbs. = 20
20 is not a great power/weight ratio
The V6 Sonata has a ratio of around 15.
However, 140hp from a 1.6ltr 4 is very good.
Sort of puts in in the Mini category.
They could just turbo the 1.6 ltr. and not gain too much weight.
stephen987 says:
07:57 AM, 07/ 9/09
If it's being described as "Accent-sized" and "like a four-passenger CRX," then 2800 lbs is way too much. The Accent hatchback is 2467 lbs. The last CRX Si was more like 2050 lbs. Even with ABS and side airbags the Veloster should clock in around 2300-2400 lbs.
estreka says:
01:55 PM, 07/ 9/09
I have a weight/power ratio of 7.7.
stephen987 says:
04:43 PM, 07/ 9/09
In what, estreka?
erik25 says:
01:54 PM, 08/15/10
See there is a H on the front......but not from Honda,this had to be the new CRX,at least with the power to less weight ratio.This will sell 100 times better than that dull CR-Z hybrid.
No battery weight and still more mpg and faster,this is what people want,fun driving fore sure!
williered says:
05:27 PM, 03/18/11
If they would do some "toning down" of the rather radical rear end to coincide more with the front of the car it would be outstanding. I am concerned about the "sacrifice" of rear viewing solely for the sake of styling. Should be a winner regardless.