I doubt it, but here's the article.


Hyundai Veloster


Hyundai wants this little hatchback to be as cool as a Mini Cooper but more affordable and practical.


Hyundai Veloster (Courtesy Hyundai)

While styling and cool factor are subjective, it does have a larger interior and trunk than the Mini.

What makes it odd is that it has one door on the driver side and two doors on the passenger side. The idea was to keep the shape of a sporty two-door, but to add a rear door on the passenger side for easier access to the back seat.

Hyundai used motorcycles as a design inspiration: The car’s wraparound windshield resembles a helmet visor, and the center console is in the shape of a motorcycle’s gas tank.

A 138-hp four-cylinder engine should make the lightweight Veloster pretty peppy. Hyundai expects it to get 40 mpg on the highway. The car goes on sale this summer.



Link to full article- http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...oming-in-2011/

Annette

 

Not possible....

Plus, I think this car is rather ugly. Hyundai has come out with some nice cars and new technology for a Korean brand, but yea, nothing like a MINI.

 

Competition gets stiffer....especially from Korea. They just don't have the heritage and a history of the car to compete with.

 

They can package all they want...fine. But will driving dynamics be as dialed in as a MINI? Probably not.

Frankly, if one "gets over" MINI looks (which isn't all that hard to do) there may be lots of competitors, at least for some folks. However, I think MINI will remain on (or near) the top of the pile for awhile simply because it does many things very well, not just one or two.

 

As for cool factor, until Michael Caine stars in "The Korean Job" running velosters on the sidewalks on Seoul, chased by a few police Kias (I'm shuddering at the image), I don't think so.

I'm sure it's a good car, and will find a good market-just don't see it poaching MINI sales, more like expanding the segment towards people people who like the idea of having a MINI, but probably wouldn't buy one for one reason or another (price, "practicality", whatever)

But hey, anything that makes sure MINI stays on top of their game and keep improving that go-kart handling and peppiness is fine by me

 

Hyundai has evolved over the years. The Genesis brand is Outstanding!

 

I agree! I usually hate to pass judgment on something until I can physically check it out. I said the Genesis Coupe could never touch a Mustang, which I am still sticking with. Overall though, it is an awesome car. With the Veloster, we shall see.

 

Styling-wise, apples and oranges.

 

Hate to say it but probably more reliable...

 

not a bad looking car, but definitely not competition. As they say, Mini isn't just a car, it's a lifestyle, and no other car company can compete with the foundation MINI has established over time.

 

Yeah MINI is a car that great grand children would say "grampa you had a MINI?" sorta like the Harley-Davidson commercial. Cannot see the apply to the Hunday.

 

As one of the previous persons commented on; it will be interesting to see what their mainenance, warranty, reliability, and of course, price will be for this new model. Clearly, Hyundai has become very adapt at copying concepts and putting out a good product.

 

Hyundai and Kia (since they own it) have come a long way. However there target is the Japanese not the British or Germans.........and if you look at their sales figures then I'd say Toyota and Honda are a bit concerned.

Mini's only real rival will be the Fiat 500 and even that's going to be a bit of a stretch, since the Mini has a strong history here in North America. Ask most North Americans what a Mini Cooper is and they can tell you...ask them what a Fiat 500 is and they have no idea.

 

The Genesis Coupe is on my very short list of possible replacements for the MINI. Hyundai has come a very long way since the 87 Excel (the very definition of POS). They have one of the best warranties in the auto world and the (current) reputation to back it up.
And yet, there is nothing like owning a MINI.

 

Well said!

 

Funny, I seriously looked at the Kia Forte Koup SX (the up engine) before I bought my Mini this week. It really was a pretty nice car: powerful, responsive, and with tons of standard features that would be upgrades on any other car at its price point. And then there's that 10-year warranty. But in the end I just didn't get that visceral reaction I got when I drove the Mini. Clearly you all know that feeling since you're here and not at a Kia fan forum. There is one, I just checked; traffic seems a bit light though.

 

I have to agree with this, 100%

Personally, I think it looks like a Juke had a child with a Porche Cayenne, with a splash of the CR-Z. . .if the package is right, who knows. . .

the brand has certainly come a LONG way in the past few years, for the US market, I think it could go either way.

It isn't a micro car, a model that has yet to be embraced in the US, but it isn't an SUV or family hauler, for that I am glad. If it can prove it's numbers, it could make a showing, it is just a shame that focused, intent having vehicles get brushed off so quickly.

 

For those of us who are a little older, British and Italian cars have less than stellar reputations here in the U.S.

Fiats were unmitigated crap here before they disappeared here all together. British cars were more popular, but also had their share of problems, mostly electrical and rust. Then again, before recently, many brands of cars would disintegrate in a few years in sections of this country with bad winters and salted roads.

I would assume that Fiat will market to the new driver, who has little to no knowledge of the 'old' Fiat. I think the 500 is a cool-looking car, but there is no way I'd buy a first year model, given what I know about Fiat's past products.

 

I quite like the Genesis, but that Veloster isn't doing it for me.

 

There is a guy near me that drives one of the old Fiat 500s, I got into the habit of waving to him since I thought he probably didn't see many other Fiat drivers . He always waves back.
I love that car and covet it every time I see it.
Annette

 

nice. Hyundai has become very adept at copying concepts and putting out a good product. The Genesis Coupe is on my very short list of possible replacements for the MINI. Hyundai has come a very long way on some new Hyundai repair questions that needs to be answered.

 

It's cheaper to maintain. As a consumer, that's cool to me. Lol