Yahoo Autos 2019 Hyundai Veloster N: With up to 275 HP, It Could Be Something Special
What It Is: Hyundai realizing the promise of the last-gen Veloster Turbo. We hope.
Why It Matters: With the Genesis luxury brand up and running, Hyundai is now focusing on creating a performance sub-brand. Bunkmate Kia has the rear-drive Stinger sports sedan, and Hyundai will have its N-badged cars. It’s like BMW’s M division, right down to having Albert Biermann at the helm. He’s the engineer Hyundai swiped from M and put in charge of performance, and he lends this whole thing a gravity we’d otherwise struggle to see.
Platform: The new Veloster shares its front-strut-suspension design with the Elantra GT Sport, Hyundai’s best hot-hatch effort yet. A multilink rear promises to elevate this three-doored sibling beyond the Elantra sedan’s torsion-beam rear suspension. A limited-slip differential and sticky Pirelli P Zeros expressly designed for the Veloster N are options.
Powertrain: A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with up to 275 horsepower and 260 lb-ft, backed up by-and only by-a six-speed manual transmission. Power levels haven’t officially been settled yet, but the Europe-market i30 N, with which this car shares its engine, starts off at 250 horsepower.
Competition: Ford Focus ST, Honda Civic Si, Subaru WRX, Volkswagen Golf GTI.
What Might Go Wrong: Given that the Veloster N is likely going to be more powerful than the ST, Si, and GTI, Hyundai could decide to position its car against the pricier Ford Focus RS, Honda Civic Type R, and Volkswagen Golf R, a decision that would make the Veloster N a harder sell.
Estimated Arrival and Price: Then again, when has Hyundai ever charged too much for anything? Expect pricing to start around $25,000 when the N goes on sale at the end of the year as a 2019 model.
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