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.
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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.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
