Hyundai Veloster Street Turbo surfaces

Hyundai Australia has announced the limited-edition Veloster Street Turbo, a customised version of the quirky sports car of which just 200 versions will be built.

Based on the asymmetrical rear-doored 150kW/265Nm Hyundai Veloster Series II Turbo, the car takes advantage of the same 1.6-litre direct-injected turbo-petrol engine driving the front wheels and features unique exterior and interior flourishes.

Available with either six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT automatic transmissions, the Street Turbo model is priced from $34,990 but brings $3000 worth of extra value to the table, claims the car's importer.

Chief among the extra bits are RAYS Gram Lights alloy wheels finished in semi-gloss black. The multi-spoke wheels are contrasted by the unique Dazzling Blue paint job and Phantom Black accents spread across the car body. These dark inserts are located on the front spoiler and grille, side skirts, side mirror covers, rear diffuser insert and rear roof spoiler.

Changes to the cabin include bespoke blue-stitched floor mats with 'Street' logos, along with a colour-matched blue interior package. This comprises leather-appointed (heated and ventilated) front sports seats with blue bolsters, blue stitching, blue seatbelts, blue side garnishes, centre console and door handles.

If it was any bluer, it'd be called the Eifel 65 edition.

As is the case with its donor car, the top-end Veloster comes with a 7.0-inch LCD touch-screen infotainment set-up featuring satellite-navigation, CD player and Bluetooth streaming. A panoramic glass sunroof is also included, as is climate-control air-conditioning with auto defog function.

Other standard features include xenon headlights, exterior 'Street' badges, and Australian-tuned suspension designed to improve "performance-oriented ride, handling and steering".

"At Veloster Series II's launch last year we incorporated reduced-diameter front stabiliser bars across the range to allow for more independent front-wheel movement," said Hee Loong Wong, Hyundai Australia's GM of Product Engineering.

"In Veloster Series II SR Turbo, the front stabiliser bar diameter was reduced from 24mm to 22mm, and that bar – together with the bespoke dampers and firmer spring rates we specified for the car – also works extremely well with the RAYS Gram Lights alloy wheels on the new Special Edition."

While the current generation Veloster has a few more years of life left in it, Hyundai is already toying with new designs for the next-gen car, as seen in the RM16 Concept.

Hyundai Veloster Street Turbo pricing (plus ORCs):
Six-speed manual -- $34,990
Seven-speed DCT auto -- $37,490