Hyundai Touts Efficiency, Power of Veloster’s New Turbo

Hyundai Motor Co. says the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine in the 2013 Veloster sport coupe boasts the highest output per liter 125.6 hp of any engine in its class.

The 201-hp four-banger burns regular-grade gasoline and makes 46% more horsepower than the Veloster's base 138-hp 1.6-liter direct injection powerplant. The turbo version delivers an Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy rating of 38 mph on the highway, only 2 mpg less than the naturally aspirated engine.

The engine is mated to Hyundai's six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The powerplant's output of 195 lb-ft of torque exceeds the capabilities of the twin-clutch automatic available in the base Veloster.

The turbocharged model weighs just 2,800 lbs, giving the vehicle a best-in-class weight-to-power ratio of 14.4 lbs/hp, according to Hyundai. The three-door compact car will compete with the Fiat 500 Abarth, Honda Civic Coupe Si and Volkswagen GTI and Beetle Turbo models.

The heart of the intercooled turbocharger is a twin-scroll design that optimizes valve overlap while reducing mixing of intake and exhaust gases. Hyundai says the engine features high-angle, variable intake and exhaust valve timing. The company will tout the performance of the turbo as part of its effort to position itself as the most efficient brand available in the North American market.

Chassis refinements include larger disc brakes and a sportier suspension that incorporates a "V" torque-tube rear axle. Hyundai says the suspension architecture integrates an anti-sway bar into a torque-tube rear axle that helped its engineers fine-tune roll stiffness during the car's development.

The turbocharged Veloster will start in the U.S. at $22,000 about $4,500 more than the standard model.