• Tag Archives Hyundai

  • GM Advises Chevrolet Bolt Owners to Park Their Cars Outside — Again

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    NHTSA says the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV’s battery pack, located under the rear seat, can potentially catch fire.

    General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are urging owners of previously recalled 2017-19 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles to once again park their cars outside and away from houses after two recalled and repaired cars caught fire. 

    The company hasn’t said what sparked the fires. NHTSA says the recall involves the high-voltage battery pack underneath the backseat cushion. The packs can potentially smoke and ignite, spreading to the rest of the vehicle.

    The company issued the latest advisory “out of an abundance of caution,” instructing Chevrolet Bolt owners to park their vehicles outdoors immediately after charging and not leave their vehicles charging overnight.

    Despite the recommendation, GM says customers should continue to getting their Bolts fixed under the recall while they continue investigating the incidents. The fix limits the battery pack’s charging capacity to 90% until a permanent solution is determined. The batteries were manufactured at LG Chem’s Ochang, South Korea factory.

    A continuing problem for Chevrolet

    Chevrolet Bolts, shown charging, use LG Chem batteries that are at risk of catching fire.

    NHTSA opened an investigation into Chevrolet Bolt fires last October, which was followed by a recall in November. The action affected 69,000 Bolts from the 2017-2019 model years, approximately 51,000 of which were sold in the U.S. The company said at the time that Bolt, resulting in two injuries from smoke inhalation. The fix limits the battery pack’s charging capacity to 90% until a permanent fix is determined. The batteries were manufactured at LG Chem’s Ochang, South Korea factory. 

    Owners of Chevrolet Bolts, or any GM vehicle can see of their car, truck or SUV is being recalled by visiting a special GM website and entering their vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN. 

    Lithium Ion batteries trial by fire

    2019 Hyundai Kona Electric front
    Hyundai is recalling about 76,000 Kona EVs built between 2018 and 2020.

    But GM isn’t the only automaker facing lithium ion battery fires. Hyundai Motor Co., Ford Motor Co. and BMW AG have faced similar recalls in recent months.

    In February, Hyundai recalled 82,000 battery-electric vehicles worldwide for lithium ion batteries that could catch fire. Vehicles affected include approximately 76,000 battery-electric Hyundai Kona EVs built between 2018 and 2020, with the rest consisting of Hyundai Ioniqs and city buses. Hyundai replaced the batteries rather than resolving the issue through software updates. The recall, which cost Hyundai $900 million, comes after at least 15 Konas reportedly caught fire. 

    LG Chem, which produces the cells, claims the automaker incorrectly applied recommendations about fast battery charging management. Hyundai advised vehicle owners to limit charging to 90% of the battery capacity until the cells can be replaced. Nevertheless, the battery supplier assumed 70% of the recall cost.

    2021 BMW 330e rear
    The 2021 BMW 330e was recalled in September 2020 for a risk of fire.

    BMW issued a recall in September of its plug-in hybrid models after they were found to be at a risk for catching fire. The car’s batteries, made by Samsung, had welding debris left inside the pack that could create a short between modules. The recall covered 4,509 plug-in hybrid BMW or Mini vehicles in the U.S., and 26,900 vehicles worldwide.

    Vehicles recalled include: the 2021 BMW X5 xDrive 45e; 2021 BMW 745Le xDrive; 2020-21 BMW 530e, 530e xDrive, 530e iPerformance; 2020-21 Mini Cooper Countryman All4 SE; 2020-21 BMW X3 xDrive30e; 2021 BMW 330e, 330e xDrive; and 2020 BMW i8.

    The growing number of fire-related recalls in battery electric vehicles illustrates the challenges involved with managing flammable lithium-ion batteries that have previously caused fires in laptops, tablets and other electric devices. 


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  • 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Reveals Itself

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    Santa Cruz

    The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has finally seen the light of day. It was about time, given all the fuzzy photos and hype prior to dropping today. More like a dull thud than a big bang, but here it is.

    Santa Cruz

    Hyundai describes the Santa Cruz as groundbreaking, and that may be so. Tabbed a sport adventure vehicle, it’s meant for urban consumers who want to be outdoors. They just can’t bring themselves to live where Uber Eats and Doordash can’t deliver.

    Santa Cruz

    We’ve just cut through its entire reason for being. Maybe the trick grille with hidden lights that can only be seen when it’s lit is the Santa Cruz’s signature. It could also be the voluminous hood and wheel arches, the latter armor-like. We should be much more enamored than we are, but ‘designed in California’ isn’t that big a deal.

    Santa Cruz

    There’s a 2.5-liter, in-line four-banger with direct-injection, 190 horsepower, and 180 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s hooked to an eight-speed auto transmission, mostly for efficiency. Then there’s a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, with 275+ HP, and 310+ lb-ft of torque. The turbo’s mated to an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters, presumably to help with responsiveness. Both drivetrains are connected to HTRAC, Hyundai’s all-wheel-drive system. Until we have the opportunity to get a Santa Cruz out in nasty weather, it’s there to make you think you’ll be okay in snow or on ice. A Sport setting provides more torque to the rear wheels, though not enough to get the Cruzer in the next “Fast And The Furious” installment.

    Santa Cruz

    The Santa Cruz is, in a pickup truck sort of way, meant to do more than it should. Take towing for example. The normally-aspirated four-cylinder has a 3,500-pound rating, and the Turbo model? It gets a 5,000-pound rating.

    Santa Cruz

    How much praise can be heaped on the interior? Design teams focus on the number of cupholders, part of the selection process.

    Santa Cruz

    The center stack’s home to the infotainment screen, and an optional digital cluster. Makes you think you’re better informed.

    Santa Cruz

    Stubby’s what the Santa Cruz is. There’s early registration in late April for sales that start this summer. The line forms to the left.

    [Images: Hyundai]


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  • Hyundai Pony Heritage Becomes Design Studio Centerpiece

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    <img data-attachment-id="1758876" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece/hyundai-pony-heritage-ev-grille/" data-orig-file="https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-10.png" data-orig-size="980,553" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Hyundai Pony Heritage EV grille" data-image-description="

    Hyundai

    ” data-medium-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-6.png” data-large-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece.png” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1758876″ src=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece.png” alt width=”610″ height=”344″ srcset=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece.png 610w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-5.png 75w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-6.png 450w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-7.png 768w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-8.png 120w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-9.png 800w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-10.png 980w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>

    While automotive enthusiasts have mixed opinions on the cultural clout of electric vehicles, there’s one aspect of electrification that’s undeniably cool — the resto-mod potential. Despite the historic appeal of driving around in vintage automobiles, they’re often painfully slow with ridiculously long braking distances and a lack of standard features many people living today would deem unacceptable. If you don’t believe me, select a random friend and ask them to parallel park a car without power steering or automatic transmission. Chuck in maintenance costs that are often well above average and it’s little wonder why so many Baby Boomers have been spending their retirement years outfitting the classic-era (or older) cars they grew up with with modern conveniences and components.

    But we’ve also started seeing manufacturers (and even some intrepid entrepreneurs) taking the foundational concepts of resto-modding and adding electric propulsion. Some executions even seem to be pushing the boundaries of what we could effectively call automotive restoration, like Hyundai’s Pony Heritage EV. 

    <img data-attachment-id="1758872" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece/hyundai-pony-heritage-ev-profile/" data-orig-file="https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-15.png" data-orig-size="980,474" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Hyundai Pony Heritage EV profile" data-image-description="

    Hyundai

    ” data-medium-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-12.png” data-large-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-1.png” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1758872″ src=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-1.png” alt width=”610″ height=”295″ srcset=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-1.png 610w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-11.png 75w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-12.png 450w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-13.png 768w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-14.png 120w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-15.png 980w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>

    Based on a first-generation Hyundai Pony hatchback (which the United States never saw), the Heritage utilizes a mystery electric powertrain and some new hardware without mucking up the Giorgetto Giugiaro/Italdesign bodywork. The car itself is supposed to be a tribute to Mr. Giugiaro and the brand’s first official product as much as it is a chance to show off what the current Hyundai design department can do — and it appears to be successful on all fronts.

    Sadly, this makes it more of an art car (technically from the “Reflections in Motion” collection) than a conceptual design the manufacturer is mulling over for future production. The car has been completely gutted to make way for modern embellishments, with the interior getting a nearly complete overhaul. Rather than the traditional dashboard, Hyundai lead designer Hak Soo Ha directed staffers to install nixie tubes. While impractical, cathode displays could have made into production vehicles from the 1970s, assuming the manufacturer was unhinged enough to ignore their delicate nature.

    <img data-attachment-id="1758878" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece/hyundai-pony-heritage-ev-front/" data-orig-file="https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-21.png" data-orig-size="980,553" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Hyundai Pony Heritage EV front" data-image-description="

    Hyundai

    ” data-medium-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-17.png” data-large-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-2.png” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1758878″ src=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-2.png” alt width=”610″ height=”344″ srcset=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-2.png 610w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-16.png 75w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-17.png 450w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-18.png 768w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-19.png 120w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-20.png 800w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-21.png 980w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>

    Other upgrades include revamped upholstery and trim pieces, LED tail and headlamps, fender-mounted cameras (instead of mirrors), and some new bumpers, door pulls, and wheels.

    According to Car & Driver, the Heritage EV has been serving as a focal point at one of Hyundai’s new design facilities in Busan, South Korea, and does double duty as a promotional tool for the Ioniq 5 — which was heavily inspired by the original Pony design that debuted at the 1974 Turin Motor Show. Despite the heavily doctored nature of the photographs, it’s a physical vehicle that can allegedly move under its own power.

    <img data-attachment-id="1758870" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece/hyundai-pony-heritage-ev-interior/" data-orig-file="https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-26.png" data-orig-size="974,781" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Hyundai Pony Heritage EV interior" data-image-description="

    Hyundai

    ” data-medium-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-23.png” data-large-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-3.png” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1758870″ src=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-3.png” alt width=”610″ height=”489″ srcset=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-3.png 610w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-22.png 75w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-23.png 436w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-24.png 768w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-25.png 120w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-26.png 974w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>

    Hyundai has made it clear that there’s no plan to put this thing into production, noting that the Ioniq 5 is already filling the space that a modern, regulations-compliant Pony EV would occupy. But we hope it serves to inform future automobiles, as this seems like the natural evolution of the modern-retro aesthetic that’s been catering to baby boomers (and those with an affinity for the classics) for over two decades.

    While malaise era remakes don’t sound all that appetizing on paper, there’s a growing number of shoppers who grew up with (and now fetishize) digital displays or Speak & Spell vehicle notifications that are nearing their peak buying power. This old-meets-new, cyber vintage vehicle aesthetic could turn out to be wildly lucrative once more manufacturers realize there’s already a market for it.

    <img data-attachment-id="1758868" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece/hyundai-pony-heritage-ev-lights-on/" data-orig-file="https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-31.png" data-orig-size="980,509" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Hyundai Pony Heritage EV lights on" data-image-description="

    Hyundai

    ” data-medium-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-28.png” data-large-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-4.png” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1758868″ src=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-4.png” alt width=”610″ height=”317″ srcset=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-4.png 610w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-27.png 75w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-28.png 450w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-29.png 768w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-30.png 120w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-31.png 980w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>

    <img data-attachment-id="1758880" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece/1975-hyundai-pony/" data-orig-file="https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-5.jpg" data-orig-size="957,656" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1975 Hyundai Pony" data-image-description="

    Hyundai

    ” data-medium-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-2.jpg” data-large-file=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1758880″ src=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece.jpg” alt width=”610″ height=”418″ srcset=”https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece.jpg 610w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-1.jpg 75w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-2.jpg 450w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-3.jpg 768w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-4.jpg 120w, https://wooautorepair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hyundai-pony-heritage-becomes-design-studio-centerpiece-5.jpg 957w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>

    [Image: Hyundai]


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  • Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance

    Posted on by admin

    Is the Hyundai Veloster N a good hot hatch?

    Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior - image 943401

    Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior - image 943401

    Hyundai’s first foray into one of the most competitive segments in the entire auto industry was a resounding success.

    The automaker promised an electrifying — not the sort that you think — debut, and the Veloster N lived up to the hype.

    Hyundai’s decision to throw gobs of money at the feet of Albert Biermann — he’s the former boss of BMW’s M division — paid off as the Veloster N was deemed a hot hatch that could rumble with the segment’s legacy models. The success of the 2020 Veloster N, however, also raised expectations for an even better follow-up. The 2021 Veloster N has to be better than its predecessor, and from the looks of it, Hyundai’s N division was up for the job.

    Some improvements for the 2021 Veloster N involved turning previously optional pieces and features from last year’s model to standard equipment, That might not sound like a big deal for those who could afford those options before, but it’s no less gratifying knowing that a lot of them are now standard in the 2021MY.

    Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior - image 943408

    Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior - image 943408

    Take the Performance Package, for example. This package cost $2,100 last year, and among the items included was a bump in power from the stock 250-horsepower output of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine to 275 ponies. This year, that same engine produces 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. In addition to the bump in output, the 19-inch wheels, larger brakes, and the electronically controlled limited-slip differential are now standard in the 2021 model. The new Veloster N is also equipped with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, ensuring that customers can choose between the new gearbox and the existing six-speed manual. Sure, the latter is the more natural gearbox for those inclined to enjoy the hatch to its limit, but that there’s a choice now is a step in the right direction.

    Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior - image 943395

    Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior - image 943395

    New sport seats are a welcome addition, and they weigh 4.4 pounds less than the previous seats.

    The hot hatch’s eight-inch infotainment display is now standard, too, as is a suite of driver assistance systems that include forward collision-avoidance assist, lane following assist, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, blind spot collision-avoidance assist, and rear cross-traffic collision warning.

    Taking into account these additions, upgrades, and inclusions, it’s within Hyundai’s right to raise the price of the 2021 Veloster N. That’s not the issue, though. The issue is whether the automaker raised it higher than it probably should have.

    How much is the 2021 Hyundai Veloster N?

    Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior - image 943396

    Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior - image 943396

    According to Cars Direct, the 2021 Hyundai Veloster N will start at $33,245, including the $995 destination charge.

    Do the math and that figure is $4,670 higher than the $28,575 starting price of the 2020 Hyundai Veloster N.

    Mind you, we’re talking about base prices. It’s only going up if you splurge on options, the most important of which is the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Opt for that setup and an additional $1,500 will be tacked into your receipt, raising the hot hatch’s price to $34,745.

    On one hand, there is some justification for the increased starting price of the Veloster N. One is the Performance Package, or what used to be a package in the 2020MY Veloster N. The entire content of that package is standard on the 2021 model. That includes the 275-horsepower output, the set of 19-inch wheels, the bigger brakes, the limited-slip differential, and the assortment of driver assistance safety features. Bolstered seats with illuminated N logos and an eight-inch touchscreen with a navigation system also adds to a compelling list of “new” standard pieces in the Veloster N.

    Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior - image 943399

    Hyundai May Have Just Priced the Veloster N Out of Relevance Exterior - image 943399

    On the other hand, the price bump does move the Hyundai hot hatch up the pricing ladder relative to the competition.

    In base form, the 2021 Veloster N is now more expensive than the base Volkswagen Golf GTI S, which starts at $29,690.

    The DCT-equipped Veloster N is also more than $4,000 more expensive than a 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI S with its own DSG transmission. The latter starts at $30,490.

    This is the reality that a lot of prospective hot hatch owners have to navigate. Is the upstart Hyundai that exciting to justify a price tag that makes it one of the most expensive hot hatch models in the market? Or is a Volkswagen Golf GTI S more of a bargain now? There’s a scenario where, even with all these additions and added equipment, Hyundai priced the 2021 Veloster N higher than it probably should’ve. Of course, we won’t know if the hot hatch justifies the price hike until we take one out for a spin, but would-be buyers will have to make a difficult decision on which hot hatch suits their money and taste better.

    Or they could just splurge and spend north of $40,000 on a 2021 Honda Civic Type R. That’ll answer all these questions.

    Source: Cars Direct


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  • First Drive: 2021 Hyundai Veloster N

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    The 2020 Hyundai Veloster N shown in the Performance Blue paint available only on the performance hatchback.

    It’s hard not to smile when you get a look at the funky little Hyundai Veloster, with its quirky layout: two doors on the driver’s side, one on the passenger side.

    The South Korean hatchback has found a small but reasonably steady audience since its debut for the 2012 model year, outlasting some once-promising competitors, such as the Honda CRX, and defying the overall vanishing act in the passenger car segment.

    While endearing, the original Hyundai hatch was short in several key areas where you’d expect to judge a sporty hatchback, namely handling and performance. But the latest twist on the Veloster story largely resolves those problems, the new Hyundai Veloster N substantially amping up the fun-to-drive factor.

    (Hyundai shows off updates to 2020 Veloster N.)

    The original, 2012 model was powered by an anemic 1.6-liter inline-four that turned out a mere 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. Getting to 60 required a painful 9 seconds. Today’s take on the hatchback offers buyers several powertrain options to choose from, starting with the base 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four making a more acceptable 147 hp and 132 lb-ft, as well as a 1.6-liter turbo-four that punches that up to 201 hp and 195 lb-ft – which will get you to 60 in a reasonable 6 seconds flat.

    The Veloster N is distinguished by largely functional enhancements, such as the rear wing.

    Now, however, there’s a third option and the 2021 Hyundai Veloster N is the sort of hot hatch that once was the near-sole purview of the Japanese. While Honda has struck back with the Civic Type-R, the Veloster N is a clear shot over the bow warning that the Koreans are there to compete, both on and off the track.

    The heart of the Veloster N is, of course, found under the hood, a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 engine that, with the optional Performance Pack, pours out a blistering 275 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Considering the hatchback weighs in at just 3,100 pounds, that’s a lot of oomph waiting for orders from your right foot. Even without that optional upgrade, you’ll still have 250 hp at the ready. Expect 0-60 times in the low to mid-5 second range, depending on your skill with a clutch, and a top speed rated at 155 mph.

    Yes, clutch. The Veloster N is one of the rare birds left on the market, offered with a six-speed manual – though the 2021 will have an optional automatic. Whichever gearbox you choose, it will send power exclusively to the front wheels. Shod in Pirelli rubber, it does a solid job of sticking to the pavement during hard launches, something that required less finesse than with the Civic Type-R which could all too easily start hopping its front wheels if you didn’t careful modulate its own clutch pedal.

    The 2.0-liter turbo-four makes as much as 275 hp with Veloster N’s optional Performance Pack.

    A limited-slip differential further enhances grip and the Veloster N boasts another nice feature, an adjustable rev-match system.

    What’s particularly impressive about the new engine is that you can forget about turbo lag. With the Performance Pack, you’ll have all of your torque in play by just 1,450 RPMs, according to Hyundai – something that meshed with our own, on-road experience.

    While getting some real power out of the Veloster is a delight, finally delivering on the promise of the distinctive design we first saw nearly a decade ago, the N edition is much more than a straight-line sled. And for that, we once again bow our heads in appreciation to Albert Biermann, the one-time head of BMW’s legendary M brand, and now the head of R&D for the entire Hyundai Motor Group.

    The original 2012 Hyundai Veloster was a fun car to look at but was severely underpowered.

    As impressive as raw torque might be, delivering a quick car is relatively easy. It’s how you handle corners that is the real challenge. And this is where Biermann has been most effective. Steering and suspension were long the Achilles Heel for the Hyundai brand. No longer, and certainly not on the growing N line-up.

    Even in its Comfort setting, the performance Veloster boasts crisp steering feel and a predictable manner in corners. To really get the feel of what it could do, though, required a drive out from Metro Detroit to the appropriately named Hell, Michigan, where we find some of the state’s most challenging roads. Switching to Sport Mode, corners legitimately marked “35” were readily handled closer to 60, with room to push further had we so chosen. The 2021 Veloster N experienced only modest body roll, enough to let you connect with what the car is doing on the road.

    (Veloster Grappler Concept ready to wrestle for attention at SEMA.)

    If we did have any gripes it was that the suspension does get a bit too harsh, even in Comfort Mode, on the rough pavement that is the typical Michigan road. There’s also a surprising amount of road noise working its way into the cabin, especially on concrete pavement.

    The Veloster N features unique analog gauges.

    But for those who put the emphasis on performance, those are reasonably forgivable flaws and the Veloster N will readily do a good job as a daily driver. The B, incidentally, offers a “Custom Mode” that allows a driver to mix-and-match settings for things like steering, gearing and the car’s variable damping. We wound up using this to opt for Sport-like settings in everything but the transmission, opting to keep it in a higher gear to reduce fuel consumption during everyday driving.

    Visually, a few key touches immediately give away the fact that this isn’t your everyday Veloster, starting with the fact that it sits a slight 0.2 inches lower. The upgraded hatchback, for one thing, gets a big wing right off the roofline – though nowhere near the massive arrangement used on the Civic Type-R. The car also gets a distinctive mesh grille with N-badging, a red front splitter, red brake calipers and unique side sills. It’s also available in a distinctive Performance Blue paint, perhaps the only blue hue that we’d be happily seen with these days.

    Inside, the 2021 Veloster N generally resembles the standard-issue hatchback, with a few welcome updates, including grippier and better-bolstered sport seats, that stick, and twin analog speedo and tach gauges.

    The Veloster N gets sports seats, a unique N-Mode feature on the infotainment screen and other upgrades.

    There’s the familiar assortment of tech features, including the Hyundai driver assistance technologies which, to the most, can be disabled when you’re pushing hard. The infotainment system can handle both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the touchscreen has a unique N-Mode function that, among other things, instantly reads out forward and lateral G-forces, a fun way to measure both your launch and braking, as well as how well you just managed that corner through Hell.

    As for fuel economy, the 2021 Hyundai Veloster N without the Performance Pack is rated at 22 mpg City, 29 Highway with the six-speed manual. We have not seen numbers yet for the automatic.

    As for pricing, it comes in at $29,700 with delivery fees, a veritable bargain compared to the Civic Type R at $37,000 – though the Honda is an all-in price, with pain color the only option.

    (Hyundai peels back the cover to reveal new Elantra.)

    In terms of price, Hyundai here sticks to its roots, offering a surprisingly affordable option for those who want a seriously impressive hot hatch. But, unlike early products from the Korean carmaker, you don’t get the feeling you’ve settled for a bargain model. The Veloster N is handsome, inside and out, well-equipped, and a blast to drive. It’s likely to give pause to many motorists who might otherwise be ready to jump into an SUV.


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