If you like the idea behind Hyundai’s Veloster Turbo but think the Korean automaker could have upped performance a few more notches, chances are that you’ll love the Velocity concept that Hyundai is bringing to this year’s SEMA Show. Like the Track’ster concept shown by family brand Kia at this year’s Chicago Auto Show, the Velocity seems to ask the question, “how far to the performance extreme can we take a production car?”
A collaborative effort between Hyundai America’s Design and Engineering divisions, the Velocity gets the best components available. It’s 1.6-liter turbo engine was pulled and shipped to Cosworth Engineering, which fitted it with new pistons, connecting rods, larger turbos, a bigger intercooler, a revised intake system, a higher-flow fuel system and custom ECU maps, which boosts output to “over” 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Underneath, the Velocity gets Bilstein springs and dampers, Brembo four-piston calipers and 19-inch HRE wheels shod with Kumho Ecsta SPT tires.
Outside, the Velocity wears a racing design motif in a white, red and gray livery with a ghosted Hyundai logo on the doors. The body kit was designed specifically to reduce front and rear lift at speed, and consists of new front and rear fascias, a front splitter, a rear diffuser, side skirts and a basket-handle rear wing.
Inside, Sparco supplied new seat belts, while Race-Keeper provided a video GPS data acquisition system for keeping track of your lap times. CPR installed an integrated roll bar, while Katzkin provided black and red suede for the Velocity’s seats and interior trim.
Like the Track’ster, we seriously doubt the Velocity will see production, but we’re encouraged by the fact that this is the second Cosworth-tuned car Hyundai is showing at SEMA. Could this be the start of an ongoing, performance-related relationship? We certainly hope so.