DETROIT: Hyundai unveiled its new Veloster and Veloster Turbo models at this year's North American International Auto Show thanks to the collaborative efforts of Hyundai designers from Seoul, South Korea and the U.S. design centre in Irvine, California.

The new Veloster features a comprehensive exterior and interior redesign, powertrain enhancements, and a bevy of new and improved infotainment and connectivity features and will begin production in March in Ulsan, Korea.

Colour options include Ultra Black, Chalk White, Sonic Silver, Thunder Gray, Sunset Orange, Racing Red, and Space Gray while the interior can be had in fabric, fabric/leather combinations or full leather.

Externally, it comes fitted with 18-inch wheels, integrated rear diffuser LEDs for the front, daytime running lights and rear light cluster as well as a newly designed front grille, functional air curtains and center chrome exhaust tips - single outlet for 2.0-litre model and dual-outlets for the Turbo and R-Spec models.

Under the hood lies a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine delivering around 147hp at 6,200rpm and 179Nm at 4,500rpm and features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing, electronic throttle control while mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission with three modes of Normal, Sport, and Smart.

The Gamma 1.6-litre Turbocharged direct-injected engine produces an estimated 201hp at 6,000rpm and 264Nm of torque from 1,500 to 4,500rpm. It also has an overboost function that raises torque to 274Nm.

The Veloster Turbo's engine is paired to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters and Shiftronic. Both transmissions were developed in-house by Hyundai.

Additionally, the turbo model features Active Sound Design, which enhances the intake and exhaust powertrain sounds inside the cabin as well as three selectable driving modes pf Normal, Sport and Smart.

All Veloster models are equipped with Torque Vectoring Control, Electronic Stability Control, quicker-ratio steering rack and a revised steering calibration system for the electric power steering system and Hillstart Assist Control.

Furthermore, the Veloster Turbos are also fitted with 18-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4, front McPherson strut suspension, coil springs, gas shock absorbers and a 24mm diameter front stabilizer bar.

The rear suspension uses a lightweight independent multi-link design with a 19mm stabilizer bar with gas-pressurized shock absorbers, 18-inch alloy wheels are fitted with Michelin® Pilot Sport 4 summer tires.

For entertainment, the infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay offers SiriusXM Radio, HD Radio, next-generation Blue Link LTE-powered connectivity, a 7.0-inch colour LCD display with radio/MP3, touchscreen, auxiliary input, rear view monitor.

Optionally available is the floating-design 8.0-inch touchscreen with navigation and Infinity premium audio with eight speakers, including a subwoofer and Clari-Fi music-restoration technology and Smartphone integration.

The cabin also features a Heads-Up Display system and Qi wireless-charging.

For added safety, there's Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), High Beam Assist (HBA) for the available LED headlights.

There's also Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW), Smart Cruise Control and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control, reverse camera with dynamic guidelines and Motor-Driven Power Steering (MDPS).

Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD).

Stepping things up, Hyundai also made available a high performance variant of the Veloster with the introduction of a 2.0-litre turbocharged N variant with a compression ratio of 9.5:1, producing an estimated 275hp at 6,000rpm and 353Nm of torque from 1,450 to 4,700rpm.

Managing power delivery to the front wheels is a six-speed manual transmission with downshift rev-matching.

The N variant gets fitted with a high-flow active sport exhaust system with a variable exhaust actuator that helps provide exhaust cracking and pop sounds.

To differentiate, the exterior gets dedicated front air ducts for improved cooling function for the brakes that are obscured by the standard 18-inch wheels with 225/40 Michelin Pilot SuperSport tyres or the optional 19-inch wheels with 235/35 Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

The rear of the Veloster N sports a larger N-design rear spoiler, rear fascia design with integrated diffuser, and performance-diameter high-flow dual exhaust system.

Inside, the cabin offers exclusive N-design front fabric sport seats, N-design steering wheel, shift knob, N-logo door sill plates, and N-design instrument cluster.

Interior details are accented by an N performance blue accent theme and as the engine speed approaches redline, the N-design instrument cluster displays a progressive sequential shift indicator to alert the driver when an impending shift point for maximum acceleration is about to be achieved.

For improved traction, the Veloster N comes with a Power Sense Axle geometry that features a zero-scrub radius for more precise steering, quicker response, and a direct on-center feel, with increased steering linearity.

The geometry is further optimized for linear torque build up and corner-exit precision.

Roll angle is also decreased due to a shorter roll-moment arm, resulting in enhanced grip.

The motor-driven power steering system is rack-mounted and secured at three locations for reduced flex and more direct handling, when during high-performance driving.

For even greater body rigidity and suspension precision under high dynamic cornering loads, a specially designed, unobtrusive rear strut brace reinforces the rear multi-link suspension mounting points.

The unique suspension tuning is derived from a multi-mode electronically-controlled suspension with a track-focused N mode available.

The suspension uses a load transfer control system that reduces dive during braking, enhances roll control during cornering and reduces rear suspension compression under hard acceleration.

Cornering is further enhanced via an optional electronically-controlled N Corner-Carving Limited-slip Differential, which helps improve launch performance, reduces acceleration slip understeer and increases maximum cornering speed via precise torque-vectoring.

Veloster N offers a wide range of driver tuning preference via its N Grin Control System drive mode selection system such as Normal, Sport, N, Eco and N Custom.

Braking comes from the front 13.6-inch performance rotors and rear 12.4-inch rotors.

Standard Veloster N brake rotors are 13.0 inches in the front and 11.8 inches in the rear.

But if those Veloster variants do not tickle the fancy, perhaps a Marvel-themed one might that pays homage to the upcoming movie: Ant-Man and the Wasp, by Marvel studios that showcases the Veloster as an escape vehicle.

The movie is due to hit the big screens on July 6 in the United States.

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