The 271bhp Hyundai Veloster N Is Here, And It's Heading To The US

Disappointed that the Hyundai I30 N won’t be making to the USA? Let us present a particularly awesome consolation prize: the new Veloster N.

It wraps up the same basic guts as the hot I30 into the pretty yet quirky bodyshell of the all-new Veloster. And yes, by quirky we are referring to the asymmetrical door arrangement (it has two on one side and one on the other), which is still very much present.

Behind that gaping, Audi-esque grille you’ll find - as in the I30 N - a 2.0-litre inline-four turbo. It’s good for 271bhp and 260lb ft, which is channeled through the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox and an electronically-controlled, mechanical limited-slip differential of Hyundai’s own design.

There’s no word on performance stats yet, but expect the hot Veloster to dispatch the benchmark 0-62mph in around the same time as the I30 N - 6.1 seconds. Unlike its five-door cousin however, it doesn’t look like there’ll be a less powerful, diff-less version available.

Adaptive dampers are fitted as standard. Along with various other factors like the exhaust character and engine response, these can be fiddled with via something which Hyundai calls - try not to cringe - ‘N Grin Control System’ This offers various driving modes and plenty of customisation, so you could - for instance - turn the engine right up without switching on the auto rev-matching system, should you want to dabble in heel-and-toe heroics.

The suspension geometry has been radically changed relative to the standard Veloster and Veloster Turbo, and there’s a hefty (but apparently “unobtrusive”) strut brace for the rear suspension towers.

The Veloster is a more interesting aesthetic starting point than the I30 hatchback, so the N makeover is less dramatic this time around. But still, the changes are easily noticeable: we have a tweaked front bumper with air ducts for the brakes, a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser, and a bigger rear spoiler. There are red accents aplenty, and yes, you can - and should - spec it in Performance Blue.

Does that all sound a bit much for you (or your insurance bill)? You may want to take a look at the new standard Veloster and Veloster Turbo (above). The entry-level model is powered by a 2.0-litre, naturally-aspirated inline-four kicking out 145bhp and 132lb ft of torque, while the Turbo is good for 199bhp and 195lb ft of twist via a 1.6-litre four-banger. Both are available with six-speed manual gearboxes, but confusingly, the automatic options are different - the 2.0-litre gets a conventional six-speeder auto, and the 1.6 has a fancier seven-speed dual-clutch unit.

Production of the Veloster and Veloster Turbo kicks off in March 2018, available in the US from the second quarter. You’ll have to wait a little longer for the N, which will be built from September and go on sale in the final quarter of the year. None of the above will be sold in Europe. Boo.