The Hyundai Veloster is a 3-door compact car launched in 2011 targeted at young generation of drivers. The company unveiled the Veloster Turbo R-Spec at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show which misses out on side-repeater mirrors, driver’s auto-up window, high-gloss interior cues, keyless entry, push-button start and heated leather seats (all this equipment is available on the regular Veloster Turbo). The Veloster Turbo R-Spec gets sports seats, unique design touches, sport suspension, retuned steering, a B&M short-shifter for the 6-speed manual transmission and vehicle chassis upgrades instead.
Hyundai does not offer any upgrades to the engine which is the same 1.6-litre direct-injection turbocharged engine that produces a peak output of 201 HP and a torque of 264 Nm as the regular Veloster Turbo. The company says this engine is aftermarket-tunable and hence, no upgrades were made as part of the stock offering. Hyundai has also announced torque vectoring for the upcoming iteration which uses stability control and powertrain control systems to improve traction out of corners. Power is sent to independent wheels and braking force via sensors to the inside front wheel ensuring enhanced performance.
Hyundai with this model has focused on handling and aesthetic enhancements. The R-Spec is set to be positioned as a ‘purists’ entry performance model. The car gets red exterior accents on the front splitter and side skirtings. The red and black sport seats get red leatherette bolsters (no proper leather on offer). The vehicle also gets special R-Spec embroidered floor mats and R-Spec badges on the exterior. The colour options include white, black, blue and grey. The Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec will be priced at $22,180 (Rs. 14 lakhs) and production is slated to begin from December 2013 with availability from February 2014.
