Johannesburg - Hyundai SA has given its Veloster range a serious beef injection with the addition of a direct-injection turbopetrol model.
When in made its world debut the Veloster Turbo was the first Hyundai to feature the all-new 1.6-litre T-GDI engine; thanks to a high-compression twin scroll turbocharger, it's rated at 150kW and 265Nm - a big advance on the naturally-aspirated Veloster's 103kW and 167Nm.
The new engine has an air-guided intercooler and variable valve timing on both camshafts, with a bed plate and serpentine auxiliary belt for reliability - and now it's here in South Africa, at R379 900 with a six-speed manual 'box (developed for this engine with wider ratios) and R399 900 with a seven-speed double-clutch transmission.
NEW BODY KIT
The Veloster Turbo has also been zhoozhed up with a quicker-ratio steering rack and re-tuned suspension, the trapezoidal centre tailpipes of the normally-aspirated Veloster give way a pair of bigger, circular pipes, and both intake and exhaust plumbing have been tuned, says the maker, for a more robust sound.
The Turbo also boasts special bumpers and foglights at both ends, a new rear spoiler and LED tail-lights, a new grille and projector headlights with special LED accents, all finished off with special 18-inch alloys.
Prices include Hyundai's five-year or 150 000km warranty and a five-year or 90 000km service plan. Service intervals are 15 000km.
Jesse Adams of our print sister publications was at the SA launch of the boosted Veloster - check out the motoring supplement in The Star, Mercury or Cape Times for his driving impressions on Thursday.