The 2013 Veloster Turbo is promising a lot more driving enjoyment to match what's already a very exciting package.
Under the hood is a new turbocharged version of the company's 'Gamma' 1.6-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder engine—that's the same engine that's in the Veloster and Accent—but here it's fitted with a twin-scroll turbocharger and pumps out 201 horsepower, along with a lot more torque that should be accessible at much lower revs.
That should not only make the Veloster a blast to drive, but it should remedy the lack of low-rev torque that we've found in the non-turbo versions. A six-speed manual gearbox will be standard on the Veloster Turbo, with a six-speed automatic optional. The new six-speed dual-clutch automatic that's optional in the non-turbo Veloster is a no-show here; that's because it simply can't handle the torque of the turbo.
Hyundai is boasting that the Veloster has a better power-to-weight ratio than the Mini Cooper S or Volkswagen GTI. And fuel economy is an excellent 27 mpg city, 38 highway.
The Hyundai Veloster is already one of our favorite picks for those who want a small, sporty coupe but also value practicality. With the Veloster's unique design—including a full-length driver's door plus two doors on the passenger side, it fuses the look of a coupe with some added practicality. The Veloster is also a standout for features, and we like how all versions included a standard touch screen, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio-streaming functions, and some other impressive in-car tech that's typically optional—especially considering that its base price is under $20,000.
Watch our video walkaround here, then take a look at our full preview of the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, as well as live pics from the show intro, and be sure to track all the intros and news from the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
