Hyundai Veloster N

When Hyundai gave the Veloster a second chance with a new look and attitude, it can be somewhat perplexing but noticeable, the dynamics are not what you called an improvement because despite the added Torque Vectoring Control that results to a much better dynamics, getting it round the corner is like opening a tightly-sealed jar but it is something they will fall in love with even though the new model is heading to the wrong direction. Proving that the regular Veloster wasn't enough to tickle their fancies, at long last, South Korea finally made their own hot hatch by injecting the Veloster some 2x spicy hot noodles and the end result; welcome to the Veloster N.

2019 Hyundai Veloster N

2019 Hyundai Veloster N interior

Before we talk about the Veloster N, let's get to know more about the N word. Born in Namyang, Honed at Nurburgring, that's what N is made for and by drawing numerous experiences in the World Rally Championship, the Nurburgring 24 Hours, and the World Touring Car Cup, they inject most of their motorsport philosophies to their road cars and at long last, after moments of lamenting, Hyundai finally made the N car available for the South Korean motoring public with the starting price of 29,110,000 Korean Won, as long as it won't draw attention from car smugglers in the Philippines because if they do, it might end up to the great junkyard in the sky.

The Veloster N truly is the other side of the Veloster because while it maybe as hot as the spicy hot noodles you're eating from the bowl, it's still the all new Veloster you recognized from the very beginning. To help buyers differentiate the N from the regular Veloster, it's been given exclusive N-design front fascia and grille with dedicated front air ducts for enhanced brake cooling as well as N-design rocker side sills and available lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels. The back sports a bigger rear spoiler and other enhancements. The inside is more sports-minded thanks to its N-hanced interior features like the seats, the speedo, and a specially-made sat-nav that lets drivers check their lap times, G-force, and others.

The 2.0L turbocharged GDi engine that powers it has been 2X spicy than the normal Veloster so that now, it produces 275PS of power and that's about as close as 90's Japanese sportscars, which is distinctively Asian if you know what I mean. It's mated exclusively with a close-ratio, short-throw six-speed manual transmission with downshift rev-matching capability.

Focusing more on the dynamics, the Veloster N features specially made suspension geometry and tuning that makes handling more mild and menacing on the road and track. There's the N Power Sense Axle that features a zero-scrub radius for a more dramatic driving feel, a track-focused N mode on the suspension setup, N Corner-Carving Limited-slip Differential, and N Grin Control System drive mode selection system, not to mention bigger brakes available as an extra. When you get to know these stuff that goes underneath the Veloster N, the end result is a hot hatch that feels like a racecar that tries to feel at home on the track but because of the "Honed at Nurburgring" tagline, it's less comfortable than the standard Veloster and you might get jack knifed when it goes all out through the bends. It's true what they said about the Nurburgring ruins cars but no matter because no matter the outcome, the Veloster N will make you fall in love all over when you spend some time driving with it.

Like I said before, the Veloster N may not be the best hot hatch in town but with its untapped potential, it's now ready to carve a whole new beginning, something that the original Veloster failed to impress from the very start. Now that it's finally here in the land of K-Pop and K-Drama, this car is prepared for a much unplugged take on the Hallyu and it's going to be as spicy as those 2X spicy hot noodles you're munching now. You know you want one.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company