SAVVY PERFORMANCE BUYERS have descended on Hyundai in droves to grab N-badged cars, recognising great performance and superb value when they see it.
Hyundai Motor Company today unveiled the newly enhanced Veloster N, equipped with the all-new N 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (N DCT). However, restrain your enthusiasm: to date, the Veloster N is not available in Australia and there are no plans to sell it locally, although the new wet dual-clutch transmission will be made available on i30 N and i30 Fastback N models from early 2021.
Hyundai developed the N DCT to provide the engaging experience of a manual transmission with the convenience of an automatic transmission. With the N DCT, the new Veloster N can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds.
N DCT is equipped with electronic actuators that operate the double clutch, providing ride comfort and fuel efficiency without diluting the fun factor. Unlike a dry double-clutch transmission, the wet N DCT uses oil to significantly improve lubrication and cooling performance, typically encountered in higher torque applications.
The N DCT comes with video game-like features that enhance driving fun. N Grin Shift (NGS) increases torque by seven percent from 36.0 to 38.5kgf-m by allowing turbocharger overboost and maximises transmission response for 20 seconds.
Additionally, N Power Shift (NPS) engages when the car accelerates with more than 90 percent of throttle, thereby mitigating any reduction in torque by using upshifts to deliver maximum power to the wheels. This gives the driver a responsive feeling of dynamic acceleration when shifting.
The N DCT also comes with N Track Sense Shift (NTS) that discerns when road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving. It activates automatically, selecting the right gear and shift timing just like a professional race car driver to provide optimal performance.
All of these features can be configured in Veloster N’s improved infotainment system, using the latest operating system shown on a larger high-definition 8-inch display. The infotainment system is paired with a JBL premium sound system.
Along with other updated features, such as Rev Matching, Launch Control and Overboost, Veloster N is optimised to automatically sense the customer’s driving style as well as the road conditions to optimise shift points. For example, if the car is going downhill, the car will use engine brake to reduce the risk of overheating the disc brakes. If the driver is pushing the car on a racetrack, the car will use the full spectrum of available engine revolutions to maximise performance.
Veloster N comes with Hyundai SmartSense safety technologies, including Front Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning (RCCW).
Customers also can opt to equip the new Veloster N with N Light Sports Bucket Seats. The unibody bucket seats are wrapped in soft, suede-like Alcantara. The track-ready seats are thinner and weigh approximately 2kg less than standard seats. As its name suggests, the N Light Sports Bucket Seats have an illuminated N logo on the upper side of the backrest, adding to the interior aesthetic. The N logo light operates in conjunction with other interior lights to create a unique, fun-to-drive ambiance.
N DCT and other new features allowed Hyundai to expand on the N brand’s “Fun to Drive” philosophy.
“Veloster N demonstrates Hyundai’s approach to high-performance cars. By equipping Veloster N with N DCT, drivers get performance and convenience at the same time,” said Thomas Schemera, Head of Product Division at Hyundai Motor. “Anyone who wants a fun driving experience will jump at the chance to pilot the new Veloster N – an everyday sports car with racetrack capabilities.”
With fun-to-drive character its top priority, Hyundai developed Veloster N to deliver thrilling cornering capability, coupled with everyday sports car drivability and racetrack performance. Development was carried out at Hyundai’s global R&D centre in Korea and performance validated at its Nürburgring-based testing centre in Germany.
Veloster N will first go on sale in South Korea this month followed by other markets.