SNEAK PEEK HYUNDAI VELOSTER
The Age
Friday April 2, 2010
SPY cameras have caught Hyundai's new small coupe in testing ahead of its expected 2011 launch.The new coupe, based on the sexy Veloster concept car unveiled at the 2007 Seoul motor show, is expected to be built in both right and left-hand-drive variants, but Hyundai Australia is yet to confirm whether the local operation will sell the car.Don't expect the big black tarpaulin as an option, though - sources are suggesting that the plastic camouflage at the rear of the car may be there to hide (at least one) rear door.The new Hyundai coupe is expected to be a three-door, four-seater. The front doors are different lengths - the driver's side is longer, for easier entry and exit, while the passenger side will have a shorter doorand a rearward-opening "suicide" door similar to those used on the current Mini Clubman.But unlike the Clubman, the Veloster is expected to have the third door on the kerb side for both left and right-hand-drive markets. Mini was heavily criticised for leaving the Clubman's rear passenger door on the wrong side when it re-engineered the car for right-hand-drive.There have been conflicting reports about which engine will be used, with a Hyundai spokesman saying in March last year that the car could get a 1.6-litre direct injection unit.More recently, sources have suggested it will be a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder (possibly turbocharged) petrol engine as well as a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel similar to the one used in the ix35 soft-roader.Whatever the engine, Hyundai reckons it will be frugal. They've claimed that if it's the 1.6-litre, it will use less than 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres - better than some hybrid-electric cars on the market.The car will be built on a modified version of the Hyundai i30's front-wheel-drive platform and will be slightly bigger (in width and length) than the current i30 hatch.Hyundai says the coupe is part of the company's "24/7" plan to launch sevenall-new models within 24 months. Expect to see the coupe towards the end of this year.MATT CAMPBELLFor more on the Hyundai range,go to drive.com.au/hyundai
© 2010 The Age
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