2019 Hyundai Veloster N

The 2019 Hyundai Veloster N is hyundai’s first inhouse performance tuned model and one hot hatch. We expected a mild upgrade from the stick Veloster… but it turned out to be a big bang. 

It has built in track cred…being developed by former BMW M division chief Albert Bierman. 

“N” signifies development in Namyang, Korea and testing at the Nurburgring in Germany. With the GTi and even R model Golfs and Civics clearly in its sights this not just a veloster with bits slapped on.

Power pours from a Theta 2.0-liter Turbo GDI I-4, dropped in from the Sonata, with a bigger twin scroll turbocharger. 250 horsepower right out of the box. Add the Performance package and you’re throwing down 275. 

Inside, there are only three pedals… and 6-short throw gears with Rev-matching while front wheels do all the work. We eagerly tossed it around at Thunderhill Raceway Park in California.

"The thing that I love the most about this car is not only the way that it sounds but it's just got that pull that you want out of a turbo sports car and it just keeps pulling and pulling until the red line."

Torque vectoring helps keep the front end planted. There's also an electronic limited slip differential. 

Understeer isn’t a worry. There’s a bit of torque steer, but it’s manageable. We could keep pushing it lap after lap.

Under hard braking its very stable, no pulling or wandering. If this is what Hyundai is capable of… it’s going to get exciting.

The 2019 Hyundai Veloster N is arriving in dealerships now  starting at just under $28,000.