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How serious is Hyundai's performance? Demonstrating confidence like Babe Ruth in the batter's box pointing to the outfield, the brand has partially named its new N fast division after the Nürburgring. The 2019 Hyundai Veloster N is the first effort, and it shows that this historically value-oriented automaker is ready for the big leagues.
Hyundai even claims that the design of the letter is inspired by a chicane of the legendary German motorsport site. The "N" also represents Namyang, Hyundai's global research and development center in South Korea, which serves as the basis for the performance division.
What matters most is what is revealed after driving the Veloster N over the 13 miles of the narrow, fast and hilly track that adds to a Nordschleife ride, the north loop of the Nürburgring. This car will make people happy.
What is it?
The Veloster N is a front-drive hatchback with sports car attributes, including quick acceleration and pleasant handling. You might think that other Veloster models fit this description, especially the Turbo R-Spec, but N's nickname speaks of higher ambitions: the durability of a car racetrack in a car that you drive every day.
Power, firmer suspension, tighter tires and bigger brakes – but the Veloster's already extroverted design has not changed much. Key additions include larger front air ducts to cool the brakes, a small wing on top of the hatch, and red look-to-me accents. Unfortunately, the only way to get accents in black is to order the car in red.
You can not see the important things, such as additional welds and reinforcements to stiffen the structure, or the electronic control and driver adjustable dampers. But there is also the hood and turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-liter developing 250 horsepower. An optional performance package increases this figure to 275 hp. The couple is 260 lb-ft independently, and impressively, Hyundai claims this production on the regular 87 octane fuel. The 1.6-liter turbo engine offered in the regular Veloster is mild in comparison, producing 201 hp and 195 lb-ft.
There is always a door on the driver's side and two on the passenger, facilitating access from the back seat for occupants arriving from the sidewalk. Installed in the fabric driver's seat, you'll find lateral support rails and a round steering wheel (not flat-bottomed) that offers an unobstructed view of the group of gauges and gearshift lights. A six-speed manual transmission is the only transmission available, although Hyundai representatives say that a dual-clutch automatic transmission is in development.
What does the engine look like? 19659006] The 2.0-liter turbo has a muted tone, and that's not the case. A variable exhaust system goes from mellow to entertaining. In the most aggressive setting, the two exhaust tips emit fun crunches and crackles as you release the throttle, making you look for excuses to remake it.
Hyundai engineers have prioritized the engine's response to peak power, and their work is obvious. Unlike many turbocharged engines, this one draws pleasurably low diets up to the red line. If you are in too high a speed to get out of the corner, there is still enough bass to grunt, but the boost does not fall in the upper registers.
The tachometer should be carefully monitored and a short passage made before the engine is out of power, while the cleverly positioned directional lights and the prominent exhaust sound mean that you will not accidentally hit the engine. speed limiter on straight lines. Si and Civic Type R.
The shifter has short and positive throws, and it is easy to land. The standard automatic leveling function ensures that the engine runs at the right speed before releasing the clutch during a downshift. The system works well enough for some to be tempted to turn it off, but those who want it will be happy to know that they can.
Hyundai has not developed an expensive front axle to minimize torque steering, a phenomenon that occurs in powerful front-wheel drive cars where full throttle acceleration can turn the flying in your hands. Instead, the engineers simply accepted the couple as part of the experiment, saying that a small amount helped to communicate what the front wheels were doing.
How does it work? Handle?
The length and sustained speed of the Nordschleife – not to mention the volume of YouTube crash compilations – inspire nervousness, but it quickly disappears into the Veloster N. The car is both stable at 100 mph and agile corner entry at low speed. Both qualities inspire confidence and make you want to go faster.
The front has a lot of bite, so we have the impression that we can approach turns faster. Once the car is set, the limited slip electronic differential available allows you to get out of the corner with a minimum of understeer. In their firmest configuration, shock absorbers transmit shocks on bumps, but the overall behavior is not uncomfortable.
Four driving modes adjust the throttle response, steering effort, firmness, aggression, command threshold exhaust tone, and slip differential engagement limited, it's equipped. A fifth custom parameter allows the driver to adjust each parameter individually. You can completely disable the stability control, although there is always a braking intervention to make handling easier.
What is in the performance package?
Although we do not yet know all the options that the Veloster N will offer, buyers should definitely consider package performance. Beyond the increase in engine power, this option includes a range of upgrades that enhance the car's capabilities.
The standard Veloster N rolls on 18-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. This pack includes 19-inch wheels wrapped with Pirelli P Zero tires developed for Hyundai, as well as a shorter final gear ratio to compensate for rolling stock of larger diameter. Brake discs increase in size, and rear discs change from solid to ventilated.
But the biggest impact comes from the aforementioned electronically controlled limited slip differential, which modulates the power flow to the front wheels to improve traction while cornering. It is effective enough that Veloster N models that do not have the overall performance get a thicker front anti-roll bar to compensate.
Is it faster than the competition?
With 275 horsepower, a weight of 3,100 pounds and standard launch control, we would not be surprised to see the Veloster N go 0-60 mph in about 6 seconds. That would put a step behind the Honda Civic Type R and Subaru WRX four-wheel drive, although it should challenge the Volkswagen GTI front-wheel drive and overtake the Honda Civic Si and the Ford Focus ST.
is necessary for racetracks, but we are eager to know how this hot hatch measures, as Hyundai engineers point out that the Veloster N's cooling system can withstand repeated running-in. The engineers also say that they even tested the car on racing slicks during development because they knew some owners would install them. (In Europe, Hyundai is offering a set of crawler accessories on the similar four-door i30 N that includes lightweight OZ wheels, Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires just licensed and Pagid brake pads.)
Should I buy one?
Two brief laps around the Nordschleife provide an intriguing tale of Veloster N's forces. While we're looking forward to driving one on familiar roads at home, this experience shows that the N Division Hyundai is ready to play hard with the best compact sports cars. Prices have not been announced, but we expect the Hyundai Veloster N 2019 to reach $ 30,000 when it reaches dealers in the fourth quarter of 2018.
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