Veloster hits the showrooms

The wait is over! Finally the new Hyundai Velosters are arriving in your local Hyundai dealer showroom. The coupe-like, 3-door Veloster is the sixth of seven new Hyundai models to roll out over a 24month stretch. Prices range from $17,500-$23,000. And when it comes to fuel-efficiency, “40 is the new 30”. Veloster boasts EPA mileage estimates of 28 city/40 highway — with the manual transmission. Automatic buyers can expect 29 mpg’s city, 38 highway.

All reviews say the Veloster is sporty and fun to drive with an extra spurt of go when needed. Preloaded gears make upshifts satisfyingly swift, though downshifts take a little longer to transact. Power from the all aluminum, 1.6 liter four is generally fine for all around driving. Veloster is the first to carry the automakers dynamic new dual-clutch transmission. Ft. Myers car dealer, O’Brien Hyundai has been anxious to receive the car and start taking it for test drives.

According to timesuion.com, “Hyundai sees their new Veloster as a ‘reverse halo car’; a high profile gateway into the brand for new buyers. It’s a subject the company has some experience with. Hyundai sales are up 21 percent year over year and the company is now perched at about a 6 percent retail share. A surprisingly large number of those buyers — some 70 percent — are conquests from other brands. Fresh looking, fuel efficient and fun to drive, Veloster will undoubtedly boost those numbers.”

Techy young people will love the standard AM/FM/Satellite/CD/MP3 head unit, iPod and USB/auxiliary jacks, 196 watts of power and eight speakers with upgrade option packs of 450 watts through eight speakers, one being a subwoofer. Also, A touch screen navigation system is available, with integrated rear-view camera and backup warning sensors. Nav or no nav, all Velosters get the 7-inch touch screen display screen mounted in the center stack.

 Ft. Myers new cars, like the Veloster, should make Hyundai have quite the fall quarter when it comes to sales.