The new 2019 Hyundai Veloster N,
first revealed at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, is set to become the brand’s “highest
performance vehicle ever for the U.S. market”. With development taking place at
Hyundai’s Nurburgring testing center, it was only appropriate for the company
to pick this place for the first driving impressions of the media.
Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter
four-cylinder engine with direct injection that produces an estimated 275 hp at
6,000 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque from 1,450 to 4,700 rpm. Paired to it is a
close-ratio, short-throw six-speed manual transmission with a rev-matching
function. The gearbox also features carbon-coated synchro rings and gear
material reinforcement that enables smoother operation and lower shift force.
The powertrain is completed with a high-flow active
exhaust system that produces an angrier soundtrack when in N mode. There’s also
an Electronic Sound Resonator that enhances the engine’s natural sound.
The chassis of the new Veloster N has been optimized
with N’s so-called Power Sense Axle. Thanks to its design, the torque from the
turbocharged motor is delivered to the tarmac smoothly and efficiently. The front axle’s geometry is also optimized
for better corner-exit precision while the rear multilink suspension features a
model-specific and unobtrusive rear strut brace for greater rigidity.
The multi-mode electronically controlled suspension
features a track-focused N mode and a load-transfer control system that reduces
dive during braking, improves roll control and reduces the rear end’s
compression under hard acceleration. A torque vectoring limited-slip differential
is also present. Hyundai will announce the exact performance figures, as well as
pricing details, closer to the model’s launch in the U.S. market.
The 2019 Hyundai Veloster N will enter production
this September in Korea and will launch in the U.S. market during the fourth
quarter of 2018. Customers will be offered the choice of four exterior colors:
Ultra Black, Chalk White, Racing Red, and the N-exclusive Performance Blue
shown in the pictures.
