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Hyundai i20 Sport previews future N Division hot hatches

Hyundai is in the process of launching its own performance sub-brand that, eventually, will yield its own line of hot hatches. But while we wait for those to arrive, the Korean automaker has given us a little taste of what's to come with the i20 Sport you see here. Launched exclusively in Germany (where Hyundai Motorsport is based), the Hyundai i20 Sport is based on the Korean automaker's Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo rival – and the basis for its World Rally Championship contender. The new Sport variant is more of a warmed-over job than an outright hot hatch, but it's not without its share of performance enhancements. The suspension is lowered and mounted to 18-inch OZ wheels. It features a new aero kit, though you might have missed it given the attention-grabbing (but optional) graphics. And the engine – while just a modest 1.0-liter turbocharged inline-three – produces a not inconsequential 120 horsepower. That's fairly competitive for an engine that size... especially when you can row the most out of it with a six-speed manual like the one fitted to the i20 Sport. Those specs are a promising harbinger of things to come. Hyundai's N division has already recruited top talent from BMW M GmbH, shown us where its heart is at with the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept, and promoted itself through the company's WRC effort. We're looking forward to seeing how the i20 N (or whatever it's called) will shape up, but in the meantime the Sport model you see here gives us an idea of what it will look like. Related Video: Featured Gallery Hyundai i20 Sport News Source: Hyundai Hyundai Hatchback Performance hyundai i20

2019 Hyundai Veloster Turbo First Drive Review | Can't spell funky without fun

The 2019 Hyundai Veloster is a revitalized version of a type of car many mainstream automakers are slowly giving up on entirely: the affordable sports car. Rivals like the Honda Civic Si and Volkswagen GTI spring to mind, but, generally speaking, car companies crank out more and more SUVs and crossovers while this once thriving segment dwindles in numbers. That's too bad, because it takes only a few minutes behind the wheel to realize the crossover and SUV crowd are missing out on a lot of driving fun. Styling is subjective, though we'd say Hyundai's design team did an excellent job transferring the Veloster's unique three-door design into a revitalized new shape. The 2019 Veloster is 0.8-inches longer and 0.4-inches wider than before, though the most noticeable changes include the large cascading front grille, along with a cleaner and more aggressive look at the rear. The new version looks like a cross between a sport coupe and, say, a high-end sneaker. It stands out, and that's a good thing in a world ruled by crossovers. Once again, the two doors on the passenger side add a degree of practicality compared to a traditional coupe, eliminating the need to climb over a folded front seat to gain access to the rear seats. The hidden door handle helps the third door blend neatly into the bodywork. Hyundai says rear headroom has increased by 0.6 inches, though it gets snug back there for anyone close to 6 feet in height. Skip the optional sunroof, since it takes up a few precious millimeters that could be better used for the craniums of rear occupants. Cargo space measures in at 19.9 cubic feet with the folding 60/40-split rear seatback in place. Like the exterior, the cabin gets a thorough redo for the 2019 model year. The overall control layout is logical and getting accustomed to the touchscreen infotainment is quick and painless. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are standard, a major plus point for tech-savvy car buyers in this segment. Some cabin plastics are hard and look cheap, especially the panels on the upper half of the doors, exactly where you'd rest an arm with the windows down during a sunny summer drive. But it's the dynamic bits that make the biggest contribution. Rather than removing sport-tuned (i.e. more expensive parts) from the car to keep the price low, the Veloster receives mechanical upgrades that help sharpen the handling and provide a more connected feel to the road.

This is the Prius-fighting Hyundai Ioniq fully uncovered

Hyundai has thus far released a few teaser sketches to give us an idea of what its new Ioniq will look like, but this is our best look yet at the finished product. Spied completely undisguised during a video shoot, the forthcoming Ioniq looks pretty much exactly as you'd expect a dedicated electrified vehicle from Hyundai to look like. The Ioniq represents Korea's take on the four-door hybrid, ready to do battle with the likes of the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt. Hyundai will offer three powertrain options, including a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and full EV. The internal-combustion engine is expected to be a 1.6-liter inline-four, slotting in between the gasoline engines on the Volt (1.5 liters) and Prius (1.8 liters). It will be paired to an electric motor, and only Hyundai will let customers eliminate the ICE from the equation altogether – much like BMW does with the i3 – to more closely rival the Nissan Leaf instead. The front end looks distinctly Hyundai, while the tall tail closely follows the aerodynamic lead set by its rivals. And from what we can see so far, it looks like rearward visibility will be somewhat constricted by a high rear deck and small rear window. Earlier spy shots showed camouflaged prototypes with interiors that looked fairly similar to those on the Elantra and Sonata. Hyundai's most recent teaser renderings, however, showed promise for something more distinctive. One way or another, we'll find out soon enough, as the Ioniq is slated for unveiling in South Korea next month ahead of its motor show debuts in Geneva and New York in March and sales debuts later this year. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Hyundai Ioniq: Undisguised Spy Shots Image Credit: Brian Williams / SpiedBilde Green Spy Photos Hyundai Electric Hybrid Sedan hyundai ioniq