While announcing their all-new Veloster in Detroit, Hyundai took the opportunity to also unveil the high performance Veloster N that the company had developed alongside, becoming officially the second model to be inducted into the new N line-up following the i30 N.
Engineered in Namyang, the home of the company’s new high performance division, and having been honed at the Nurburgring, Hyundai will be selling the Veloster N alongside the regular model almost simultaneously, though production is due to start a few months later in September 2018.
Hyundai insists that the mechanical and dynamic changes between the Veloster N and Veloster Turbo are indeed very substantial, adding to the quite obvious visual differences. To improve cornering response, standing accelration, and high speed grip, the car uses a limited slip front differential to more adeptly distribute power where it’s needed most.
There’s a bunch of different suspension components and precise calibrations that work in tandem with the car’s specific dynamic profile to improve handling and response, naturally. And we’ve seen this put to great effect with the i30 N that came earlier. However, what you need to know is that Hyundai chooses rather ridiculous names to encapsulate them.
For example, the aforementioned limited slip front differential has been dubbed N Corner-Carving while its drive mode system is known as - wish I was kidding - the N Grin Control System, probably measured by the degree of laughter that ensues after hearing someone try to explain it seriously.
As you might imagine, the powertrain plays a major role in a hot hatch like this. And here we have the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mill that’s used in the i30 N (and lower-end Kia Stingers), producing an identical 202kW and 353Nm. No acceleration times have been provided as yet, but can’t be far off the 6.2 seconds quoted for the i30 N. Mated to this engine is a close-ratio, short-throw six speed manual with capability to perform automatic downshift rev-matching.
Outside the, Veloster N sets itself a apart by its 19-inch alloys in a machine-finished dual-spoke star design (wearing either a set Michelin Pilot SuperSport or an exclusive compound of Pirelli P-Zeros), the unique light blue specific to N division products as well as the additional air ducts up front to properly cool the larger brakes. Observable along the sides are the more aggressive side skirts, larger rear spoiler and dual exhausts with unique diffuser surround.
There isn’t all that much changed over the Veloster Turbo with regard to the interior, though, but the seats are more heavily bolstered and feature a special grippier cloth fabric. There’s also a more performance-oriented instrument cluster and plenty of blue accents to match the N division’s signature colour.
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