2016 Hyundai Veloster Rally Edition
Windy City Review +VIDEO

2016 Hyundai Veloster Rally Edition

By Larry Nutson
Senior Editor and Bureau Chief
Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel

You can have any color you want as long as it’s Matte Blue. And don’t wait long to make your decision because there will only be 1,200 units built.

At this past February's 2015 Chicago Auto Show, Hyundai unveiled a new variant to the Veloster model, the 2016 Rally Edition. The Rally Edition builds upon the Veloster Turbo R-Spec with a more performance-focused suspension, RAYS lightweight wheels with wide 225/40R18 tires, carbon-fiber-look aero accents, unique badging and floor mats.

The Rally Edition is all about performance. Powering this compact coupe is a twin turbo 201HP DOHC 1.6-L mated to a six-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels. The engine torque curve is really flat developing a maximum of 195 lb.-ft. at 1,750 rpm to 4,500 rpm. Acceleration from stop to 60 mph is in the mid-seven second range. Not quite on par with some other sport-hatches on the market, but quick enough to provide plenty of fun.

EPA test fuel economy rating for the Rally Edition is 28 mpg combined, with 25 city mpg and 33 highway mpg. Now if you get one of these hot-rods my prediction is that your fuel consumption will be high at the beginning because you will be sticking your foot deep into the throttle a lot. Over time though, fuel consumption should be fairly reasonable.

Up front the independent suspension has upgraded coil springs, upgraded gas-filled hydraulic twin-tube shock absorbers and a 27 mm stabilizer bar. In the rear the coupled torsion beam axle with coil springs gets upgraded gas-filled hydraulic monotube shock absorbers. The rack-and-pinion steering is Motor Driven Power Steering, column mounted and speed sensitive.

RAYS lightweight alloy wheels have been fitted reducing unsprung weight by five pounds per wheel. The suspension tuning combined with the 40-series tires helps you get around corners quickly but at the same time I noticed there’s a bit of harshness in the ride. The imperfections in the Chicagoland roads seemed magnified.

Like other Veloster Turbo models, the Rally Edition offers Torque Vectoring Control. This feature comes into play during cornering and uses the stability control and powertrain control systems combined with wheel speed sensors to apply braking to the inside front wheel. This redirects power to the outside front wheel and reduces wheel spin for improved cornering grip and corner-exiting or, track-out if you will.

This three-door hatchback with a passenger-side rear door has sporty looks both out and in. I’ve driven the Veloster in the past and continue to like the low seating position and overall feeling of being connected to the car. The Veloster is really most suitable for two, but the third door does make it easier for an occasional extra person to climb aboard, although the sloping roof requires a bit of a head-duck. I liked the rear door for its convenience in loading small parcels or groceries.

Under the rear hatch, the cargo area holds 15.5 cuft and the rear seat folds to increase that to 34.7 cuft. The passenger side rear door helps here too for cargo loading.

The Rally Edition features high-bolstered front seats with Turbo lettering and blue trim accents in the interior to complement the exterior. Stainless pedals give the all-around sporty look and the B&M Racing Sport Shifter works smoothly and precisely. I was wanting for a more distinctive steering wheel, perhaps more unique to the Rally Edition.

There’s a LG high-resolution 7-in. touchscreen, 450-watt Dimension Premium Audio system with AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD/MP3 and eight speakers including external amp and subwoofer. A rear view camera is s great help with tight city parking garages or parallel parking.

The Veloster is great for zipping around town but almost begs for a road trip that shuns the interstates and yearns to travel the two lane by-ways and back roads.

More details and specifications on the Veloster Rally Edition and the entire Veloster line-up can be found a www.hyundai.com. To compare the Veloster to other sporty coupes you can do that right here at www.theautochannel.com.

The 2016 Hyundai Veloster Rally Edition is priced at $23,950. Veloster pricing for 2016 starts at $18,000 and cars have been available at dealers since May 2015.

Note that Hyundai offers a nice long warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty.

Coming back to that only-comes-this-way Matte Blue, I’m not really a fan of matte finish paint, but that’s not to say the Rally Edition wasn’t good looking. The Matte Blue Rally Edition did turn some heads and garner noted conversation, mostly from young hipsters of both genders that I observed in my comings and goings.

Let me point out that matte paint takes some special care in cleaning and washing. Hyundai provides a Matte Finish Paint Owner’s Guide with the Rally Edition. Washing does need to be done by hand, so forget any automatic drive-thru car wash, even the so-called soft-touch. There also are specific steps to follow when washing by hand using soap made for matte finish. The car needs to be dried with a soft chamois. With every Rally Edition Hyundai provides a matte paint customer care kit supplied by Dr. Beasley’s.

Noteworthy is that for the third consecutive year Hyundai’s Veloster was named a Best Value in America winner from Vincentric, the automotive research firm specializing in automotive cost of ownership.

Lastly, later in September Hyundai Motor will showcase its high performance sub-brand N at the Frankfurt International Motor Show 2015. It looks like we can expect a lot more from Hyundai and their efforts as a primary competitor in the World Rally Championship. I wonder what the next Chicago Auto Show will bring?

© 2015 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy

2016 Hyundai Veloster Rally Video Review From http://www.savagegeese.com/

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