Front wheel drive 2012 Hyundai Veloster are out and this sports coupe looks as good. Despite the test vehicle being camouflaged in black, Hyundai’s Veloster lives up to the expectations with its 2+2 seating after the Concept version released at the 2007 Seoul Auto Show. Besides an attractive exterior body style, the side windows are much improved- they stretch beyond the B-pillar. The tail lamps are positioned on the rear plane. The sides are taller with a long roof and a steeply raked windshield. The front and rear fenders have been made less fat and toned down. The dramatic stance is heavily brought down and it leaves car lovers slightly disappointed, especially people who were hoping for the next Honda CRX. The Veloster is inspired by the Hyundai Accent and is slightly longer than the Mini Cooper, while still retaining 70 percent of the Concept’s styling. It looks really small and comes with a host of power improvements in the form of the pretty decent 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, gasoline direct injection (GDI technology). The power figures are a neat 138 hp and 136 lb-ft of torque. There is also a choice of a dual-clutch automatic transmission or one can have manual transmission as well with an entry level power plant of over 40 mpg. Expected to hit the roads soon sometime later this year or early 2011, the Veloster is pegged at a neat price of US $18,000.
