2014 Hyundai Elantra Limited on 2040-cars

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2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec loses creature comforts, gains sporting equipment [UPDATE]

Hyundai unveiled the Veloster Turbo R-Spec at the LA Auto Show yesterday, and it's touted as a high-performance model without some of the standard features usually found on the Veloster Turbo, such as proximity-key entry with push-button start, premium gauge cluster, side-repeater mirrors, driver's auto-up window, high-gloss interior trim and heated leather seats.
Like the other three R-Spec models Hyundai has released (Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec, Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec and Genesis 5.0 R-Spec), the Veloster Turbo R-Spec skimps on interior appointments to keep the price down. But Hyundai thinks that people who buy it don't want that equipment anyway, and would rather install aftermarket goodies. The car is priced at $22,110 (including the $810 destination fee), which makes it the least expensive Veloster Turbo model.
The pared-down hatchback's special features include R-Spec-specific sport suspension, retuned steering and a B&M short-shifter for the six-speed manual transmission (the R-Spec isn't offered with an automatic). That's all great, but we can do without the red-accented side skirts and front splitter, which look just as tacky in person as they do in pictures.

Hyundai bringing new Veloster model to Chicago

The quirky Hyundai Veloster range is expanding, and we'll see the next take of the Korean automaker's hatchback at the Chicago Auto Show next week. Buried in a release about the company's social media activities, which you can read below, is a line confirming the "reveal of the newest addition to the Veloster lineup."
Mum's the word on what to expect in the world of Veloster, but our best-guess is that it won't be something Earth-shattering. Keep in mind, Hyundai just used the LA Auto Show as its venue to debut the Veloster Turbo R-Spec - a lower-cost, performance-minded version of its hot-ish hatch. Whether or not this new model builds upon the base car (pictured) or the more potent Turbo, remains to be seen.
We'll have the full scoop next week, so stay tuned.

Hyundai, Porsche top J.D. Power APEAL study

Just as they did in the Initial Quality Study, Porsche and Hyundai have taken the premium and non-premium crown, respectively, for the 2014 J.D. Power APEAL study. This is the tenth consecutive year for that Porsche has been rated the best premium make in the APEAL study, which attempts to figure out how pleased owners are with their purchases. For 2014, it asked 86,000 owners of MY2014 cars to rate their vehicles in 77 different categories 90 days after their initial purchase. The resulting figures were plugged in deliver the APEAL score, which is rated on a 1,000-point scale.
The industry average sits at 794 points for 2014, although that's a one-percent decline over last year's rating. In this year's study, premium brands averaged 840 out of 1,000, while non-premium makes average 785. For their part, Porsche netted an impressive 882 points, while Hyundai earned an 804. Interestingly, only four non-premium brands (Hyundai, Ram, Volkswagen and Mini) finished above the industry average for 2014.
It's also interesting to see the clear delineation between premium and non-premium brands, with an eight-point gap between the non-premium champ, Hyundai, and the lowest-rated premium brand, Volvo.