Quick Drive: Hyundai Veloster N w/Performance Package

Photo by Doug Berger

Hyundai revamped its funky Veloster for 2019. It maintained much of the said funkiness from the previous model while offering up new style and new features. We always enjoyed the Veloster Turbos we've driven, as reviewed in the past. When the latest generation was announced, we were told a high-performance model was going to come out in its new N lineup. I got to drive the Veloster N with the Performance Package, and must say that it's at the top of the hot hatch game.

Review: 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Sport

Photo by Mercedes Lilienthal

I generally feel I’m aware of the latest automotive offerings as they hit the market, or even before they come out--whether they’re not small cars. However, while at the Portland International Auto Show this winter, my friend, Tuan, pointed out the latest iteration of the Hyundai Elantra GT. We drove the previous version of Hyundai’s GT hatchback back in 2013, and despite the GT moniker, we found it less than sporty.

Review: 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid

Hyundai, a Korean manufacturer known for its comfortable and solidly built cruisers, has now entered the plug-in hybrid game. The all-new Ioniq four-door plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is their answer to the similarly operated Chevy Volt. This model is in addition to the 2017 regular hybrid and pure electric versions. It’s the first time an auto manufacturer released a single model available as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric runabout. We’ve had a chance to drive this vehicle for a week, so we’ll share our good, our great, and our could-be-improved opinions.

Subcompact Surprise: 2019 Hyundai Veloster

Photo courtesy of Exploring Elements

Well looky here: Hyundai has debuted the all-new 2019 Veloster at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. OK, that's not really that much of a surprise. However, the promise of a 275 hp Veloster is. Let's see what Hyundai has in store for the little hatchback.

Review: 2016 Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec

Back in 2012, we drove the then-new 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo and touted its avant garde looks, better-than-expected fuel economy, and gusty power. Fast forward to 2016, and Hyundai still offers the boosted hatchback in a few trim levels, including this R-Spec variant, which is the least expensive way to get into the turbocharged Hyundai. This is the model buyers will want who don’t need all the extras goodies that might be found on the standard Veloster Turbo or Veloster Turbo Rally Edition models. In other words, if you just want a more basic Veloster Turbo, this is the one to get.

Forgotten Small Cars

Today I ran into this high-resolution image of the Toyota Tercel Wagon. These bulletproof 4WD wagons will seemingly run forever, so long as you keep their 1980s-made bodies away from salt. Sometimes I forget these ever looked new. Add some fancy lighting and skis (yes, those are Yamaha skis), and it can really bring you back!

This Tercel picture made me think of a host of other cars that I hadn't seen on the road in years, but contrary to popular belief, were actually in pristine condition rolling off the showroom floor at one point. See if you remember some of these cars. I haven't seen any of them in person in quite some time. Are there some you remember but haven't seen an a while? Post them up in the comments.

Pontiac Le Mans

When was the last time you saw one of these in the flesh? I remember a guy in my dorm was borrowing one of these Pontiac Le Mans for a while in the mid 1990s. Poor guy.

Mitsubishi Cordia

Before the Mitsubishi Starion there was the Cordia. For some reason, I always look for these on craigslist, not that I'd do anything other than say, "Wow, I can't believe there's one for sale" if I found one.

Mazda GLC

Truthfully, I know where I can find one of these here in Portland, but its not in great shape. Other than that, it must've been 25+ years since I saw one in person.

Dodge Colt

It's been nearly forever since I saw an old Colt like this. My parents had a 1979 or 1980 version. It was red, and I remember how the front passenger seat folded forward.

Dodge Omni

Here's another one that seems to have left the earth. We had a dark blue one in the early 1980s; it was a four-speed. My friend Dan had one as a winter beater back in Minnesota. You could still buy one into the early 1990s, too. Bonus points for the shelf-paper woodgrain.

Nissan Pulsar NX

Remember the Nissan Pulsar NX? You could remove the trunk and slap on this "sportbak" canopy turning the coupe into a wagony shooting brakeish thing.

Hyundai Scoupe

Before Hyundai became a world-class automaker, the Scoupe was the company's sporting option, which I believe combined the "S" from sport and the word coupe. Genius! It was one of the last cars on the U.S. market to not offer dual airbags. You could, however, get a turbo model.

Ford Aspire

Before Ford had great hatchbacks, such as the Focus and Fiesta, they had the Aspire, which was made by Kia. When was the last time you saw one of these cruising the boulevard?

Chevrolet Spectrum

You may remember the Suzuki-built Chevy Sprint (and Sprint Turbo), but they also offered the Isuzu-built Spectrum (and Spectrum Turbo). You can still find Sprints every now and then, but the Spectrums are quite rare—especially the turbo models.

Red Bull Global Rallycross Seattle

Words by Andy Lilienthal. Photos by Mercedes and Andy Lilienthal

The Red Bull Global Rallycross came back to Dirtfish Rally School outside of Seattle last weekend for the first time since 2011 and it did not disappoint. All the big names in the GRC Supercar class were there including Tanner Foust (in the VW Beetle above), Ken Block, Scott Speed, Bucky Lasek, David Higgins, and more.

This was our first time at a GRC event and it was great. Unlike stage rally racing, you get to see more of the action. In fact, think of rallycross as the motocross of rally racing. It's on a tight track with jumps, hair pins, and straightaways. There are also multiple laps and heats and then a main race. The course layout features a shortcut referred to as "the joker." Drivers can take the joker once during the race—a move that must be strategically planned. In fact, all drivers have a spotter that communicates via radio with the driver to tell them to take the shortcut, as well as when to overtake, when to slow down, and any other helpful bits of advice during the race.

At this race, Ford, Hyundai, Subaru, and Volkswagen were represented in Fiesta ST, Veloster Turbo, Impreza WRX, and VW Polo and VW Beetle race cars, respectively. The cars are all-wheel drive, make around 600 horsepower, and are incredibly fast and wonderfully noisy. They feature a sequential gearbox, use Yokohama tires mounted on Method race wheels, and feature all the go-fast and safety equipment you'd expect on a race car. Plus they look awesome.

The venue, the acclaimed DirtFish Rally School, is located just outside of Seattle in Snoqualmie, Washington. The site used to be a huge Weyerhaeuser lumber mill and still features a host of huge buildings. In fact, part of the track actually went through one of these long structures. The pines and hills around the area are very scenic which only added to the race's overall feel.

The racing was fantastic: Lots of sliding, passing, bumping, and dirt slinging took place—all part of rallycross's charm. If you get the chance to attend, we highly recommend it. Rally racing has a certain flair to it, and it was extremely evident at this event.

Here are the top results along with some more pictures. Enjoy.

Where Are The Sporty Korean Compacts?

Our posting of the 2014 Kia Soul is a great example of how the Korean automakers are truly coming out with appealing cars, and that they know how to cater to American tastes. They had a great first effort, and are following it up by an even better second shot.

I was over at Autoblog this morning and read their quick spin of the new Ford Fiesta ST. From their notes, it sounds like it's going to be a total kick in the pants to drive. It's not news that compact performance cars are a ton of fun. They're not that expensive and offer up a ton of fun factor. Fiat's got the 500 Abarth, Ford's got the Focus ST and the above-mentioned Fiesta ST, Chevy offers its turbo Sonic RS, Honda's got the Civic Si; there's the Nissan Juke, the MAZDASPEED3, and of course, the Subaru WRX, and the granddaddy of the hot hatch movement, the Volkswagen GTI. There are others out there, not to mention older models. (The Colt GT, Suzuki Swift GT, and Chevrolet Sprint Turbo are still on my short list.)

However, other than the 2013+ Veloster Turbo, neither Hyundai or Kia offer a performance version of their compacts. I suppose you could count the Genesis Coupe, which is a lot of fun, but it's more along the lines of a true sports car versus a scrappy, high-strung performance compact. Where's the turbo version of the Accent? Where's the Kia Rio with a 1.6-liter turbo engine and a six-speed? How about a hopped-up Kia Soul to compete against the Juke?

There are more and more enthusiasts souping up their Hyundais and Kias, such as the great-looking Forte above. But it's all aftermarket stuff. Short of the Veloster Turbo, the Koreans aren't offering a good platform for compact car tuners and enthusiasts to build off of. Heck, you can't even get a new Forte or Rio with a manual transmission unless you get the base LX model.

Seeing how well both Kia and Hyundai are doing in the U.S., it wouldn't surprise me if at some point (and some point soon) we start seeing more performance-oriented compacts and subcompacts from the Koreans. Remember: competition is good, and frankly, I'm all for more sporty compact/subcompact cars.

Does Your Car Have a Nickname?

Project 1995 Suzuki Sidekick, better known by its nickname, The Teal Terror.

Ever since cars have existed, people have been giving them nicknames. I tend to think cars' nicknames will manifest themselves at some point due to some traits or characteristics. The naming shouldn't be forced. My lovely wife, Mercedes, however, believes cars should be given nicknames shortly after purchase. No matter how a vehicle gets its nickname, some of them are fantastic.

You may be familiar with our 1995 Suzuki Sidekick project vehicle, better known by its nickname, "The Teal Terror." Why is it called that? Part of it is irony. Frankly, we made fun of the color when we got it, since it's such a lovely shade of '90s greenish. Also, few cars are less filled with terror than a 95 horsepower Suzuki Sidekick—especially one that is teal-colored. However, the name stuck, and friends and acquaintances all now refer to it as The Teal Terror.

When we took delivery of our 2013 Subaru WRX, Mercedes wanted to immediately nickname it. Regardless of my attempts to dissuade her to wait for its earned nickname, she started calling it "Rexy." (WRXy), although I refuse to call it that.

Oddly, our 2007 Toyota Yaris never got a nickname that stuck. We called it "The Egg" for a while and Mercedes still refers to it as "The Jetsonsmobile" and then makes the sound of the Jetson's car. She calls it this because she thinks it looks small, semi futuristic, and people always smile when they see it.

One of the better nicknames we recently heard was from our new neighbors. They just bought a 2013 Toyota Prius in a very nice shade of burgundy; it also has the anthracite-colored 17" wheels. Being wine enthusiasts, they call it the Tempranillo Torpedo (tempranillo being a wine grape varietal).

We had a friend who had a 2001 Hyundai Accent she called "Pigpen" due to the fact that it often looked like a dumpster on the interior. In fact, I heard her father say that passengers should probably get a tetanus shot before riding in it.

So does your car have a nickname? If so, what's the story behind it?

Review: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT

Photo by Curtis Reesor

The abbreviation GT immediately means something to car people. Standing for Gran Turismo or Grand Tourer, the letters often conjure up images of high-performance machines: Ford Mustang GT, Pontiac GTO, Volkswagen GTI, for example. But how about a Hyundai Elantra? Probably not the first car you might think of. The 2013 Elantra GT is a five-door hatchback, just like the original Elantra GT, which was offered beginning in 2001. And much like that early model Hyundai, there’s little in the way of GT-style performance from this Elantra despite the name.

In the driveway: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT

We're back on the review junket, and in the driveway this week is the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT. Frankly, I love the looks of this compact hatchback. It's edgy, sleek, and modern without being garish or boring. So far, the only thing GT about it is the looks and its adjustable steering ratio, which has a taught sport setting. Other notes: Great stereo, a super-cool panoramic glass roof with a really sweet sun shade (I'll get a video to show you what I mean), and plenty of space.

We tested the Elantra Coupe not too long ago and found it tepid in terms of excitement, and the GT has the same engine/transmission combo. However, it's far more practical and we think it looks better, too.

More later; stay tuned.

Review: 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe SE

The 2012 Elantra sedan was proof that Hyundai could make an attractive competitor for the crowded front-drive compact sedan segment. For 2013, Hyundai apparently believes there are buyers out there who will opt for a coupe variant of the Elantra, and has therefore introduced the Elantra Coupe.

Not that long ago, many manufacturers offered both a compact four-door sedan and a compact two-door coupe version of a model. Think Chevrolet Cobalt. Think Ford Escort and Escort ZX2. Think Mitsubishi Mirage. Think Pontiac G6. However, the front-drive compact coupe segment has been dwindling, with the only options being the Honda Civic sedan and coupe and Kia Forte and Forte Koup. (I suppose you could throw in the Scion tC, too, although there’s no sedan version of it.) Perhaps the decline in compact coupes could be attributed to the popularity of hatchbacks—something I thought I’d say about the U.S. car market. Coupes are purely for looks. After all, you’re not going to gain any practicality by removing the rear doors and offering a hard-to-access back seat. Although the coupe versions of many cars may look sportier, they don’t drive sportier unless you opt for a truly higher-performance variant, such as the Civic Si coupe or Kia Forte Koup SX, both of which offer 2.4-liter engines in place of smaller standard mills.

In the driveway: 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe SE

In the driveway this week is Hyundai's 2013 Elantra coupe. As you may know, Hyundai's venerable Elantra is available in sedan, hatchback (in GT trim), and also coupe form. Main competition would include the likes of the Honda Civic coupe, Kia Forte coupe, and Scion tC.

I've had the car for 24 hours, and it feels surprisingly nimble and smooth. Power is decent, and it's quiet at 55 mph. This thing has a huge trunk, too. Rated 27 city, 37 highway, it'll be interesting to see what this 1.8-liter, 145 horsepower engine will in the economy department. Interior is pretty nice, too. I have to say, I think it looks pretty good, especially in red. Stay tuned. 

SEMA Show 2012: Assessing the small car quotient

It's only seven days until the SEMA Show—the world's largest bastion of customized automobiles in the world. It's the who's who of the automotive aftermarket. This will be my seventh consecutive year at the show, and just as excited as I ever was.

Review: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: Adding some much needed grunt to a unique compact

The Veloster Turbo now has enough power to match its sporty looks. Photo by Curtis Reesor.

The Hyundai Veloster is a very interesting vehicle to say the least, and it looks like nothing else on the market, for sure. It’s got three doors: one on the driver’s side, like a coupe, and two on the passenger’s side, like a sedan. It’s got a very usable backseat, too and a good amount of cargo space. It looks sporty, futuristic, and avant garde. It’s definitely unique.

Unfortunately, the standard 1.6-liter engine—the same as found in the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio—doesn’t match up to Veloster’s sporting looks. Frugal? Yes. Fast? Not so much. However, Hyundai also offers the Veloster with a turbocharger for 2013. It’s still powered by a direct-injected 1.6 liter mill, but the turbo brings power up to 201 hp, which is 36 horses more than the non-turbo 1.6. The turbo mill also cranks out 72 ft/lbs. more torque. And while it’s not the most refined sounding engine in the world, it does generate ample power under foot.

Handling is the Veloster Turbo's forte. The ride is stiff, but not uncomfortable. Photo by Curtis Reesor.

Our Boston Red Veloster Turbo came with the six-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual shifting ability. No complaints about the transmission, really. It was perfectly adequate. There is a wee bit of turbo lag with this engine, but things moved pretty rapidly, even with the automatic, as the Veloster provided gusty mid-range power. As mentioned, however, it wasn’t the most refined turbo-four I’ve driven, and I would’ve loved to have had a bit more exhaust note coming from the super-cool twin-tip exhaust pipes.

For me, the car’s highlight was its handling, which was better than expected. Turn-in was good and cornering was flat and controlled. It’s a pleasure to drive enthusiastically in the corners. The ride is a bit stiff, but it is a sporty car. It certainly cruises easily enough on the highway, too and is comfortable enough on longer trips. Again, I just wish it had a bit more exhaust note.

Speaking of exhaust, I love the exhaust treatment on the Veloster Turbo. I’m a sucker for center-exit pipes, and Hyundai executed this design perfectly. It definitely looks like it means business from the back. The rest of the vehicle looks equally sporty. The Turbo model gets a bigger grille than the non-turbo, a different front cowl, fog lights, and side skirts. This Turbo model also rides on 18” wheels and tires. At first glance, I really liked the wheels, but over time, I didn’t particularly care for the chrome treatment on the spokes. They reminded me of some sort of cheesy throwing star from a sci-fi movie or something. These wheels, like the rest of the car, is a take-it-or-leave-it style. It isn’t for everyone.

What most people will agree on, however, is the car’s interior. It is impressively styled and has a great combination of sporty and comfortable. This Turbo model had leather, an impressive sound system, Blue Link service, and trip computer. It’s quite futuristic, too, and has a big, wonderful moonroof. And although much of the interior features forward styling, it still remained mostly intuitive. Plus, there’s tech aplenty, too. From all the Blue Link connectivity you’d ever want, to a big touchscreen LCD display, a reverse camera, and the list goes on. On top of it, the back seat is actually usable, and there’s enough cargo space for a couple of smaller suitcases. It’s a modern, techie wonderland inside the Veloster—a very good place to spend time, even if you’re in the back seats. Our only noteworthy concerns were the silver-painted interior grab/door handles that might scratch over time, and exterior visibility is below average.

Although the car is mostly positive, the sum of the parts still isn’t as exciting as one might hope. Plus, at more than $26,000, you’re now smack-dab into Volkswagen GTI territory, which is at the top of the heap with regards to driving dynamics and upscale feel. It’s also a competitor with the MINI Cooper S, the Civic Si, and perhaps even the Fiat 500 Abarth. Compared to this Korean make, the others offer perhaps a bit more driving dynamics, but you will likely pay more to maintain the Euros; and the Civic doesn’t have a turbo (although it makes the same amount of power and has a limited slip differential). One thing the Veloster does have, however, is fuel economy. With the automatic, this car is rated at 25 city and 34 highway (29 combined) on regular gasoline—something none of the above rivals can do.

The Veloster Turbo has a unique shape, but it works. I love the center-exit exhaust treatment. Photo by Curtis Reesor.

I think buyers shopping for a sporty front-drive coupe or hatchback will probably be sold on Velosters looks first, then impressed by the tech and interior, then like the power, with the fuel economy being the cherry on top. Its competition might reel in the more passionate driving enthusiasts, however. The Veloster is a good car on the verge of a great car. With a bit more exhaust note and power it could likely become excellent.

Photos by Curtis Reesor

In the driveway: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo A/T

This week's review car is the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo. The non-turbo Veloster makes 138 hp. The Turbo makes 201—a healthy boost (pun intended). Our review model is mated to the six-speed automatic, but power is still quite good. There is some turbo lag, but the car is much more entertaining compared to the normally aspirated 1.6-liter mill, which is also found in the Accent and Kia Rio.

I really like the car's looks, and love, love, love the twin tail pipes. It's a sharp little number. I'm, not sure I dig the dark chrome inserts in the 19" wheels, but so be it. Handling is good, and the car feels tossable in the corners. It also has a great stereo and the interior looks really neat. Is it worth the $26,320? We'll find out. Stay tuned.

Review: 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track: Big power, big fun

The 2013 Genesis Coupe gets an aggressive new front fascia. Our tester looked great in silver. Photo by Curtis Reesor.

One of the fundamental thoughts behind Subcompact Culture is the idea that you don’t have to have a ton of power to have a ton of fun. I maintain that certain cars with 100 horsepower can be a hoot to drive, especially in the corners. That being said, the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track has 348 horsepower put to the rear wheels. To say having 348 hp is “fun” is like saying that a wall of Marshall amplifiers at rock concert is “loud.” In fact, the Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track as a whole is a damn blast, and it’s amazing to think this greatness is coming from the same company that offered the Scoupe as its sportiest offering at one point. Remember that car? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Of small tires and economy cars

Recently, I posed the question to the Subcompact Culture Facebook page about who had the car with the smallest tires. I think the smallest was a 4.8-8" tires on a Messerschmitt mini car. Next smallest was 165/70/10 on the Micro Image Subaru 360.

The smallest tires I personally had were 145/80/12 on our 1979 Honda Civic 1200. That thing cut through the snow like a hot knife through butter, as evidenced by the video we shot of it in college. Other "small rollers" I remember having were the 175/70/13 tires on our Dodge Colts (yes, we were repeat offenders) growing up.

This got me to thinking: What's the smallest sized tire currently available on the U.S. market? Diameter wise, I believe that goes to the 14" wheels/tires available on the Hyundai Accent. In fact, I think it's the only 2012 to come with 14s wrapped in 175/70/14 tires.

Width wise, the Mitsubishi i has the narrowest rollers at 145/65/15 on the fronts.

It's amazing to me how 15s and 16s are now standard fare on the vast majority of small cars, when not that long ago (as late 1995)  you could still buy a Geo Metro with 145/80/12 tires, and in the '80s, there were plenty of cars on 13s.

June 2012 subcompact sales

Quite a bit of numbers in the green this month. The Fiat 500 was flexing its Italian-bred muscles this month with a sales increase of more than 122% vs. a year ago; year-to-date sales are up a staggering 319%. In a distant second is Nissan's Versa, still up an impressive 101.3%, and Kia's quick-selling Rio over +87.7%. It should be noted that Chevrolet's Sonic is quite popular: It's now the third best selling b-segment vehicle. Not bad for the new kid on the block.

Again, the big loser was Honda's CR-Z hybrid declining more than 50% vs. June '11, and is down 70% year to date.

In other sales news, the Smart ForTwo outsold the Scion iQ this month, but year-to-date sales still have the iQ in the lead.

Also, Suzuki, is only reporting that overall brand sales are up 1%, and that increase was led by the SX4, which was up 5%. No year-to-date info was given.

Make/Model	June '12 vs. June '11	Units, June '12	YTD June '12 vs. June '11	YTD
Fiat 500	+122.2%	4004	+319%	20706
Nissan Versa	+101.3%	8746	+32.7%	60919
Kia Rio	+87.7%	3668	+87.7%	22396
Scion xD	+76.9%	1017	+6.7%	5502
Hyundai Accent	+56.9%	5660	+51.8%	36470
Nissan Juke	+52.7%	3101	+7.2%	18728
Toyota Yaris	+43.3%	2007	+70.9%	19971
MINI Countryman	+27.6%	1819	+13.7%	9260
Suzuki SX4**	+5.0%	NA	NA	NA
MINI Cooper/S Convertible	+6.7%	539	+2.9%	2692
MINI Cooper/S Hardtop	+4.6%	2601	-2.5%	14729
Honda Fit	-6.7%	4584	-29.4%	24290
Kia Soul	-9.9%	10199	+15.7%	63635
Mazda2	-13.2%	938	+34.7%	10151
Ford Fiesta	-17.1%	4589	-25.6%	31326
MINI Cooper/S Clubman	-30.9%	560	-28.5%	2823
Nissan Cube	-45.8%	711	-64.5%	4085
Honda CR-Z	-57.7%	409	-70.0%	2404
Chevrolet Sonic	--	6785	--	42240
Smart ForTwo	--	1017	--	4748
Scion iQ	--	702	--	5084
MINI Coupe	--	252	--	1565
MINI Roadster	--	224	--	990

Numbers reflect sales in the United States.
**Suzuki is only reporting that June, 2012 SX4 sales were up. No year-to-date info was given.

In the driveway: 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track

Every now and then we step out of the traditional sub/compact segment. This is one of those times, and boy is it fun.

Behold the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track, all 345 horsepower of it. Technically, the EPA actually calls the Hyundai Genesis Coupe a subcompact—works for me. I love the revised front end, the big-ass Brembo brakes, and the snarl of the exhaust. Unfortunately it's saddled with the automatic. All hope isn't lost; it's the company's new eight-speed (no, that's not a typo) hooked up to the sweet 3.8-liter mill and directing power to the rear wheels. It does have manual shifting abilities thanks to paddle shifters.

Initial impressions: Oh so fun, even for an automatic. Great power, great brakes, great handling. Fuel economy is ... who cares. I haven't bothered to look. All I know so far is that it has got gobs of thrust, especially considering most vehicles we review here have under 150 hp. It feels very solid, and I think it looks great. The fuel bill for this one might be higher than most, but you know what? I don't care.

Stay Tuned.