LA MOTOR SHOW: Hyundai lops Veloster
Hyundai's C3 Roll Top concept is a Veloster for the triathlon setHyundai has unveiled a new concept based on the Veloster at the Los Angeles Auto Show overnight.
The show car, named the C3 Roll Top, has been built to extend the Veloster's hipster appeal with a drop-down tailgate in lieu of the standard car's liftback rear.
From a point just aft of the A-pillars, a canvas top stretches back over the roof. To open up the car for the transportation of a bicycle or surfboards, the tailgate can be dropped down to fill the role of a loading platform and the roll-top roof can be folded forward.
Hyundai's design team has embraced recycling culture by 'paving' the load area (when the rear seats are folded flat) with rectangular sections chopped up from old skateboards. The electrically operated roll-top roof has been formed from old truck tarpaulins. 'C3' is an abbreviation of 'Convertible three (door)', according to Hyundai.
“We were inspired by the proverb ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss’,” said Hyundai Design North America Chief Designer Chris Chapman. “The Veloster C3 Roll Top concept offers the ‘no strings attached’ freedom of a roll top convertible and customisable utility that fits an everyday to a play-day dual lifestyle.”
The concept car, which is powered by the SR Turbo’s 1.6-litre engine, can be identified by the high-gloss white paint and a flat-black coordinating finish for the spoiler, tail-light bezels, registration plate mount, roof-rails, wheels, foglight bezels and grille. Flat red mirror shells complete the colour scheme.
Other features of the C3 Roll Top include larger exhaust outlets, a hexagonal front grille, sculpted side skirts, diffuser vents in the rear air-dam, 18-inch wheels with chrome inserts and eight individual LED headlight accents.
Hyundai’s North American CEO John Krafcik introduced the C3 after a mea culpa addressing Hyundai's embarrassing rebate program for buyers who purchased the company's products, only to find the advertised fuel figures were often optimistic at best.
It's of little consequence in Australia, where fuel consumption figures are decided by government-set testing parameters, but marks a big concession to consumers from Hyundai.
Hyundai also launched its long-wheelbase version of the Santa Fe, which replaces the Veracruz and won't be sold in Australia.
More news and coverage of the 2012 LA Motor Show
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