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Hyundai Veloster Facelift Filmed Testing at the Nurburgring

Since Hyundai launched the Veloster back in 2011, a mid-life refresh would be a welcomed sight. And despite lack-luster sales results, the Korean automaker has decided to go ahead and invest even more money into the project.
Hyundai Veloster Turbo Facelift 1 photo
Photo: SB-Medien
Our spy video shows the development work going on with the Veloster Turbo, the more powerful and aggressively designed version of the car, which was supposed to take on the European and American hot hatch markets by storm.

While so far the Veloster has failed to impress, it seems German engineers working working out of Hyundai's Nurburgring test center have managed to eek out a more dynamic machine. The camouflaged prototype sticks to the road and grips to the corners well, denoting a better suspension setup.

Of course, the Veloster Turbo has some understeer tendencies, since it's a front-wheel drive car. Based on the sound the tires make and the way it pulls in the corners, a limited slip diff is still not available, but most potential buyers will not notice its absence in real-world conditions.

A 1.6 GDI turbo engine making around 200 horsepower delivers supermini hot hatch levels of performance, comparable to a Ford Fiesta ST. It's the same engine sister car Kia is using for the cee'd and pro_cee'd GT hot hatches and potentially other models in the near future.

Unfortunetely for Hyundai, the segment seems to be moving towards higher displacements. The Veloster's main rival, the Cooper S, has just come out with a 2-liter engine making 192 hp. The funky Brit is thus much faster, with a 0 to 100 km/h time of 6.7 seconds and top speed of 233 km/h (with the automatic). The number of doors isn't a problem either, since a 5-door long-wheelbase hatch has just come out.

Hyundai's current design language is about to evolve into a new direction, as previewed by the Sonata and Genesis sedan. The Veloster was originally made to look like the Genesis Coupe, so a trapezoidal grille and more refined lines will be added. Interior changes will mainly focus around a new generation of BlueLink infotainment system, with better smartphone integration and apps.

This new Veloster Turbo will face stiff competition when it's revealed. However, if being different and having fun are what you're after, Hyundai offers an interesting solution.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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