Hyundai Veloster N still a chance for Oz

No sooner had we got to grips with the fact Hyundai won’t bring the Veloster N to Australia comes news that the business case is indeed still open.

Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) says it is still “keen to evaluate” the N version of the brand’s second-generation Veloster, which is currently only produced in left-hand drive.

Confused? Join the club. But according to HMCA public relations general manager, Bill Thomas, the 202kW Veloster N is one of several N-enhanced models currently under consideration Down Under, where the local importer is keen to offer the widest variety of sports models it can.

“There’s a lot of interest in Veloster N from us,” admits Thomas. “We’re very keen to evaluate that interest and see what the realistic chances of us selling it are as well.

“At the moment [unlike the standard MkII Veloster range, which arrives here in October], it’s a no.

“It’s not developed for right-hand drive, and we’re looking at a business case for that. I personally think the more N cars we can offer, the better.”

Hyundai has told motoring.com.au previously that it’s plotting an N-enhanced version of the front-wheel drive Kona, the small SUV that shares its underpinnings with the already hugely successful i30 N hatch.

The i30 N hatch will be joined by the all-new i30 N Fastback later this year, though Hyundai admits each new N model has the potential to steal sales from another.

“Of course there’s some risk about cannibalisation of the hatch, but it’s about justifying volume and what cars we take from which plant,” he explained.

“It’s really quite complex, but there’s a thinking that exists at the moment that says the Veloster N and i30 N hatch shouldn’t be sold in the same market.

“But there’s also a lot of customer interest in it. In the harsh world of volumes, business cases, profit and supply-demand it’s really quite a tricky balance.”

Hyundai has as many as eight new models expected in its local showrooms before the middle of next year, including the all-new Veloster and Veloster Turbo.

Due here in October, the asymmetric four-door hatch is a chunkier, more angular take on its more rounded predecessor and will come with the choice of 2.0-litre petrol (110kW) and 1.6-litre turbo-petrol (150kW) engines.

Pricing is expected to start from “around $30,000”, Hyundai says.