Hyundai Veloster: Not A Coupe?

by Edward Niedermeyer

January 4th, 2011 12:58 PM

Hyundai just hit us with this teaser image, showing the forthcoming Veloster, which we (and everyone else) thought was a two-door. Apparently not. Look for the full reveal this Monday, live from the Detroit Auto Show.

#Design #FutureCars

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8 of 48 comments

Dlc on Jan 04, 2011

Aaah-don't get my hopes up for a CR-Z engine upgrade. I think it looks fantastic, and it's got a Honda 6 speed. BTW, I think the Veloster looks very interesting, and the 1 rear door is great for putting stuff in the back seat. I only ever drove 2 door coupes/hatchbacks (including an '87 CRX Si) until my current 328i sedan, and having a rear door or two is awfully handy (even if the 3 series coupe is clearly the looker). If the Veloster's curb weight is similar to an Accent's then 140 hp would be plenty.

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- Bytor on Jan 04, 2011
  
  I don't see the need for a rear passenger doors for putting stuff in the backseat of a hatchback. In my last hatchback, the rear seats were folded 99% of the time. I don't put stuff in the back seat, I put it in the hatch, that is the whole point of a hatch. Now if you are talking about putting people back there, then obviously the rear passenger doors are handy. If I was going to carry rear seat passengers more than once/month, then I would get a 4 door. I would much rather they aimed this more clearly as a 2door+hatch with 2+2 seating for emergencies. It would be symmetrical, lighter and less expensive.
  
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Dlc on Jan 04, 2011

Well, by "stuff" I meant stuff and people. I put stuff in the hatch and the back seats of my last hatchback. I suppose I'll reserve actual judgment until I see it in person-but it's intriguing.

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Tom Windelinckx on Jan 05, 2011

From en.wikipedia: "Though originally most traffic drove on the left worldwide,[3] today about 66.1% of the world's people live in right-hand traffic countries and 33.9% in left-hand traffic countries. About 72% of the world's total road distance carries traffic on the right, and 28% on the left." So it's roughly 2/3rds right-hand traffic (RHT=LHD cars), 1/3rd left-hand traffic (LHT=RHD) cars. That's more than just "a few countries" that would have to switch over.

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Shaker on Jan 05, 2011

I'm sure that the rear door is a concession to young families with one (small) child. Perfect for a car seat, and (in the US) on the curb side. Yet the driver has good over-the-shoulder visibility and easy access. Yes, it's odd, but the Saturn was even more weird, as the 3rd door was on the street side (not good for offloading kids).

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- Steve65 on Jan 05, 2011
  
  But great for single people, or people who mostly drive solo. My wife has a 4 door sedan, but the passenger side rear door is almost never touched. She would be equally well served by a 3 door with the extra door on the driver's side. Where I live, far more parking is done in perpendicular parking lot slots, not on the street. In that context, a passenger side third door is less useful, as you have to walk around the car to get to it, and back around to get in after using it.
  
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- Signal11 on Jan 08, 2011
  
  shaker, I think this is one of those opinions that are almost entirely colored by different experiences. When I'm in the states, I split my time my time between city living in the NE corridor and the burbs in TX. In DC, Baltimore and Philly, almost everyone I know parks parallel and a passenger side 3rd door is extremely handy. The only time I ever park perp to the curb is when I head out to a big box store out in the burbs. I'll load stuff into the rear passenger side just so I don't have to hang out in the street to offload. OTOH, parallel parking is almost completely unknown in TX and Cali living. My guess is that for the young, urban demographic, passenger side door is more ideal.
  
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- Bytor on Jan 08, 2011
  
  This is why this strikes me as a largely pointless gimmick. Instead of different bodies for RHD/LHD and debates about which side the rear door is best located, why not simple give it two rear doors??? Either give it TWO or FOUR passenger doors. If you make the decision that TWO doors aren't enough fine. But in what possible way is THREE passenger doors better than FOUR ??? Still I am looking forward to the reveal on Monday and I would likely still get it in spite of this gimmick.
  
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