At its global launch the Veloster Turbo was the first Hyundai to feature the company’s 1,6-litre GDI engine with a high-compression, twin-scroll turbocharger. This T-GDI unit, generating 150 kW maximum power and 265 Nm of torque, has now made its debut in the local Veloster range, with performance figures that are quite a step up from its non-turbocharged sibling which delivers 103 kW and 167 Nm.
“The Veloster Turbo is also pointer to where the Hyundai brand is heading: to produce vehicles with advanced engine and transmission technology that will appeal to car buyers that are looking for an exciting, yet reliable and well-designed automobile. The engine used in the Veloster Turbo forms the base for the power plant in Hyundai Motorsport’s World Rally Championship i20 car – the only difference is that the rally car delivers 200 kW …,” says Stanley Anderson, marketing director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.
“The heart of the Veloster Turbo is its powerful engine, and the performance that it injects into this innovative sports hatchback in our range. You can watch this space, for this engine is the start of many new developments to come from Hyundai’s Namyang Research and Development Centre in South Korea,” says Anderson.
Maximizing fuel efficiency and performance, the Veloster Turbo’s engine has an air-guided intercooler, direct fuel injection system and dual CVVT, with a bed plate and a serpentine auxiliary belt adopted for enhanced engine reliability
The Veloster Turbo is fitted with a quicker-ratio steering rack and a revised steering calibration to match, which provide for precise cornering, feedback and control. As with the turbocharged engine, the front and rear suspension set-ups have been tuned to match the expectations of drivers that appreciate firm and surefooted road manners.
The driving experience is further enhanced by the sport-tuned engine intake and exhaust notes: the trapezoidal centre tailpipes of the normally-aspirated Veloster have been replaced with two larger free-flowing circular pipes, allowing for a more robust sound.
To handle the power enhancements, the Veloster Turbo is paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission – developed in-house by Hyundai – featuring a wider gear ratio spread to handle the additional torque output. It also comes with a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) which changes gears automatically or through driver input with steering wheel mounted paddles or the gear lever.
“The Veloster Turbo is not only about power and performance on the road – it is a well-equipped hatchback with a long list of luxury features, from the sound system with its Gracenote music management feature to leather seats, and Bluetooth sound system and cell phone integration. Furthermore, it has scored exceptionally well in the safety ratings of the Euro NCAP crash tests,” says Anderson.
The Veloster Turbo has the same practical appeal as the original model, thanks to the innovative 1+2 door design. It also now features unique front and rear bumpers and fog lights, a new rear spoiler and grille, new 18-inch alloy wheels, projection headlights with unique LED headlight accents, and unique LED taillights. These elements further accentuate the car’s eye-catching styling and add a greater emphasis on its performance.
Twin-scroll turbocharger and GDI technology
The 1.6-litre turbocharged GDI four-cylinder petrol engine in the Veloster Turbo produces 150 kW maximum power and 265 Nm of torque. When not driven in anger, the Veloster Turbo with the 6-speed manual transmission has delivered fuel consumption of 7,9 litre/100 km in a combined test cycle, and the DCT transmission derivative proved to be slightly more frugal with 7,4 litre/100 km.
Hyundai’s 1.6-litre Gamma T-GDI engine features a twin-scroll turbocharger that, when combined with the GDI system, provides instantaneous power delivery. While twin-scroll turbochargers have traditionally been used on more expensive performance engines, Hyundai has brought this technology to the Veloster model.
Twin-scroll turbocharger designs have two exhaust gas inlets divided by split walls inside the turbine housing, with both gas passages controlled by a waste-gate. Thanks to this divided manifold, a twin-scroll turbo recovers more energy from the exhaust than single-scroll turbocharger versions.
The twin-scroll design also separates the cylinders whose exhaust gas pulses interfere with each other, resulting in improved pressure distribution in the exhaust ports and a more efficient delivery of exhaust gas energy to the turbocharger’s turbine.
This in turn allows greater valve overlap, resulting in an improved quality and quantity of the air charge entering each cylinder. In fact, with increased valve overlap, the scavenging effect of the exhaust flow can literally draw more air in from the intake side. At the same time, drawing out the last of the low-pressure exhaust gases helps pack each cylinder with a denser and purer air charge.
Maximum boost from the turbocharger is 18 psi. The twin-scroll turbocharger design has several other advantages over traditional, single-scroll turbocharging systems, including:
Improved combustion efficiency;
Low engine-speed efficiency;
Kinetic exhaust gas energy is not wasted or trapped;
Cooler cylinder temperatures;
Lower exhaust temperatures; and
A leaner air/fuel ratio
The result of these benefits is an increase in low-end torque and faster response to throttle inputs.
Hyundai’s twin-scroll turbocharger uses a unique, industry-first design to maximize performance and durability. In the Veloster Turbo, the stainless steel exhaust manifold and turbocharger housing are cast together in a one-piece design. This patented design delivers a drastic reduction in weight and cost paired with improved durability for the turbocharger housing.
Also contributing to the impressive performance of the Veloster Turbo is Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) technology. By precisely injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber at high pressure, greater control of the fuel mixture at the optimum moment is ensured, thus improving efficiency. The fuel is injected by a camshaft-driven high pressure pump and the piston heads are “dished” to increase combustion efficiency in each cylinder. Using a higher-than-normal 9,5:1 compression ratio, the Veloster Turbo generates a very high specific output of 94 kW per litre.
Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7,8 s for the manual derivative, while the Veloster Turbo with the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) is somewhat quicker at 7,3 s. The maximum speed of the manual derivative has been measured at
224 km/h, while the automatic DCT can reach 225 km/h.
Sport-tuned suspension
Complementing the aggressive appearance is the finely tuned suspension setup of the Veloster Turbo, and key components in the steering were upgraded for the Veloster Turbo.
The Veloster Turbo features a quicker ratio steering rack and a revised steering calibration to match, both providing drivers with precise steering feedback and control while cornering on its 215/40VR18 tires. To ensure Veloster Turbo has confident stopping ability to match its increased power, the ventilated front brake discs have been enlarged by 20 mm (300 mm) relative to the standard car.
All Velosters are fitted with a MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs, gas-charged shock absorbers and a 24 mm front stabilizer bar. The rear suspension is a light-weight V-Beam torsion axle with coil springs and monotube shock absorbers. The rear suspension’s integrated 23 mm stabiliser bar braces the torsion arms for greater stiffness and increased control over body roll.
All Velosters feature sport-tuned electric power steering that adjusts instantly to changing driving conditions and improves fuel economy versus a conventional hydraulic system.
World-class weight efficiency is also a program target for all Hyundai models. The benefit of weight reduction is two-fold, increasing both performance and fuel economy. This priority on weight efficiency allows the Veloster Turbo to deliver a dynamic combination of agility, performance, and fuel efficiency.
The Veloster Turbo has the same 2 650 mm wheelbase as the naturally-aspirated Veloster, but is 30 mm longer (4 250 mm) and 15 mm wider (1 805 mm).
New interior features, sound system
Inside, new full leather seats with the word “Turbo” stitched into the seatbacks help deliver a unique look while providing exceptional support and comfort. An exclusive Supervision gauge cluster feeds the driver information in a larger, clearer, and more interactive format by way of two TFT screens located between the tachometer and speedometer.
The Veloster Turbo includes proximity keyless entry with push-button ignition.
As a reflection of consumers’ new desires in the digital age, all Veloster models come standard with a multifunction seven-inch touch-screen display.
Gracenote® technology improves the way Veloster owners access and manage their music. This new system allows the driver to see licensed cover art and use a “More Like This” automatic playlist generator. Gracenote® helps organize song metadata from a driver’s music collection and associates specific genre classifications (Indie Rock, R&B, Classical, etc.) with the identified tracks. In doing so, Gracenote’s Playlist Plus™ technology allows Veloster drivers to create targeted music playlists with a single button or voice command.
A 196-watt AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers and iPod®/USB/AUX connectivity is standard in the Veloster.
Audiophiles can opt for the available 450-watt Dimension premium audio system that features eight speakers, including an eight-inch subwoofer, and an external amplifier.
A Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with voice recognition, address book download, and audio streaming is standard. The Veloster comes standard with an integrated rear-view camera.
Advanced standard safety technology awarded 5-star rating
The Hyundai Veloster has been awarded the maximum five-star safety rating by independent vehicle assessment organisation, Euro NCAP. The results of the rigorous test process include class-best scores for the 1+2 door sports coupe.
The Veloster achieved a rating of 96% in the Adult Occupant category, registering maximum points in the side barrier test and more severe side pole test. In the Child Occupant category, the Veloster attained a score of 89%.
The electronic stability program and seatbelt reminder systems contributed to the car’s score of 71% in the Safety Assist category.
“The five-star rating for the Veloster shows Hyundai’s commitment to the highest levels of safety for our customers, and in a performance car such as the Veloster Turbo this is an important feature,” says Anderson.
The Veloster is equipped with an exceptional level of standard safety features for the compact coupé segment, including a number of active safety measures. A Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system optimally manages the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the Motor-Driven Power Steering (MDPS) to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle in slippery conditions or during fast cornering.
Should the vehicle lose traction, the VSM can deliver up to eight Newton-meters of counter-steering effort to help keep it on the road. A Traction Control System (TCS) is also included.
A state-of-the-art four-wheel disc brake package provides confident stopping ability. The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) features Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). EBD evaluates the impact of the vehicle’s load on weight distribution and adjusts braking force accordingly between the front and rear axles. In a panic stop situation, Brake Assist ensures maximum braking force is applied.
The Veloster Turbo also scores well in the passive safety department: it features six airbags, including dual front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and side curtain-airbags. As noted, all of these safety features are standard equipment. The Veloster Turbo with the 7-speed DCT is also equipped with Hillstart Assist Control as a standard feature.
Price and warranty
The Veloster Turbo is sold with Hyundai’s 5-year/150 000 km manufacturer’s warranty and roadside assistance; supplemented by a 5 year/90 000 km service plan.
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