Five-door Hyundai Veloster in the works?

 

2012 Hyundai Veloster - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai may be working on a more traditional five-door hatch version of the company's new Veloster. The Australian site Car Sales Network recently spoke to Eunjuu Shin, the manager for overseas product planning for Hyundai, who said that his company is working on a Veloster with four doors for global markets. Other suits within the Korean automaker have neither confirmed nor denied the news, saying that right now, the manufacturer is focused on the launch of the two-plus-one door configuration.

So, how likely is it that Hyundai is working on a five-door Veloster? On the one hand, a slightly more functional version of the vehicle might appeal to more buyers, though with the same 1.6-liter direct-injection four-cylinder as the Accent, we could easily imagine too much product overlap between the two siblings. The Veloster is set to touch down in the United States later this year, so don't expect to hear too much more about a five-door version until well after the vehicle's launch date.

Gallery:2012 Hyundai Veloster

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[Source: Car Sales Network]

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Hyundai reveal the i40 sedan

The Hyundai i40 is specifically designed for the European market and will have its official debut at the Barcelona Motor Show. After which the 4.74 metre long saloon will go on sale in the 4th quarter of 2011 in Europe. The i40 saloon represents the next evolution of Hyundai's unique design language, 'fluidic sculpture'. The 'fluidic sculpture' design DNA is recognisable by flowing lines inspired by nature which combine to create a dynamic exterior, and was introduced on the Hyundai ix-onic concept car at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Since this debut, 'fluidic sculpture' has been the design inspiration behind all new Hyundai models, such as the award-winning ix35, ix20 and Veloster. The all-new i40 will be available with a choice of four Euro V-compliant engines: two petrol and two diesel. These units cover a power spread of 115 ps to 177 ps, with torque delivery extended across a wide engine-speed range, making the i40 an enjoyable car to drive around town or on the motorway. Manual and automatic transmissions will also be offered. Hyundai's all new four-cylinder 2-litre GDI engine, called 'Nu', makes its debut in the i40. It delivers higher torque for enhanced driving pleasure, improved fuel economy and reduced emissions and excellent NVH characteristics – similar to the multi-point fuel injected engine. Equipped with GDI (gasoline direct injection) this 1,999 cc unit generates 177 ps and 213 Nm of torque, ensuring that the i40 brings a good balance between performance and fuel economy. An i40 saloon with this engine and a six-speed manual gearbox will accelerate to 62 mph in just 9,7 seconds, record fuel economy figures of 41.5 mpg (combined cycle) and achieve a CO2 rating of just 159 g/km. By offering an extensive standard specification with numerous high-tech features, the high level of equipment in the i40 promises to be one of its key attractions to potential buyers. High-tech features include smart-parking assist and lane departure warning system, as well as connectivity items like Bluetooth® with voice recognition and full map navigation with rear view camera. In terms of comfort and convenience, the i40 will be available with an electric parking brake, front air ventilation seats, heated and reclining rear seats, as well as new features for the segment like auto-defog system, and a heated steering wheel.

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The new Kia Naimo concept
It’s always interesting to see what car manufacturers come up with when they present concept cars, the only problem is that far too often they never make it into mass production. Lets hope that’s not the case for the newKia Naimo concept, which is set to debut at the Seoul Motor Show next week. The word Naimo is Korean for ‘square shape’, and while the car is quite boxy, it sounds more like a Brazilian footballer. The Naimo is targeted for the B-segment and is an electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV) which combines many traditional Korean elements with state of the art tech. Part of the Korean traditional element of the car is seen in the floor and the interior door panels, which are made from Korean oak, with Han-ji paper used for the head lining. The high tech comes in the form of high-intensity air jets at the base of the windscreen instead of windscreen wipers. As you may have noticed from the pictures of the car, there are also no door mirrors, instead the Naimo uses miniature cameras installed in the A-pillars. The Naimo is powered by a Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor that produces up to 80 kW of power with a maximum torque of 280 Nm, which results in a top speed of 150km/h. The twin-pack battery uses Lithium Ion Polymer technology that will last for 200km of driving on a single charge. Recharging the battery to full will take 5 and half hours. While the Naimo does look promising, it is far too common for many of these concept cars to lose a number of their innovative features down the line, should they be lucky enough to make it to the production line.

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