2012 Hyundai Veloster - First Test v2 - video Dailymotion

We strap the test gear onto Hyundais new 2012 Hyundai Veloster to see how it performs.

Transcript

00:00 Every so often a car comes along that has people scrambling for their cameras.

00:12 The all new 2012 Hyundai Veloster is one of those cars.

00:17 The Veloster is first and foremost about its form with all of its flashy details.

00:22 The motorcycle inspired interior cues, the trapezoidal exhaust tips, the muscular fenders,

00:28 blacked out A pillar, buck tooth front fascia, and its scalloped glass heavy rear.

00:33 Inside the Veloster is arguably as expressive as the exterior with instrument cluster and

00:38 a start stop button drawing cues from sport bikes.

00:42 Seats are nicely bolstered for when the going gets curvy and the optional moonroof brightens

00:46 up the cabin.

00:47 Like several other cars in the Hyundai lineup, the Veloster employs a version of Hyundai's

00:51 direct injected 1.6 liter 4 cylinder rated at 138 horsepower and 123 pound feet of torque.

01:00 It's mated to either a 6 speed manual or Hyundai's new dual clutch transmission.

01:05 The 6 speed manual's clutch engagement was easy to get used to and the throws were on

01:09 the shorter side.

01:10 But the test team has reported some issues with launching and accelerating smoothly and

01:14 believes the throttle calibration might need some work.

01:16 For a car with so much go fast show, the 2,741 pound car we tested was kind of slow.

01:23 Zero to 60 came in at 8.8 seconds and a quarter mile came in at 16.7 seconds at 83.1 miles

01:31 per hour.

01:32 The Veloster circled our figure 8 in 27.6 seconds at .6 average G.

01:37 The Veloster turned in reasonably with limited body roll and understeer was easy to adjust

01:42 with both throttle and steering.

01:45 Throttle acceleration at .83 average G and a 60 to 0 braking distance of 125 feet are

01:52 both solid.

01:53 Hyundai officials we talked with know the Veloster isn't a burner.

01:57 They feel the car's MPG story is bigger.

02:00 When pressed about a higher spec version, the smiles got wide.

02:03 A turbocharged variant is all but assured.

02:06 Add it all up and from where we're sitting, the Veloster lends Hyundai the sort of reverse

02:10 halo effect the automaker was seeking at a relatively affordable price.

02:15 Now get that turbo model here and that halo may really shine.

02:20 [Music]