Test Drive: 2015 Hyundai Veloster Turbo - Better than before...but does it hit the spot?

It has been an interesting couple of years in terms of performance cars here in Malaysia. Car manufacturers have been busy launching performance biased cars. We've had a whole slew of junior hot hatches, hybrid sports cars, warm hatches and other interesting cars. Even Hyundai has joined in after a hiatus of sorts with a lack of a sports car in its local lineup after it stopped bringing in the Hyundai Scoupe years ago. They came back with the Veloster sometime in 2013. I drove that car back inAugust 2013 and found it tasteful in terms of looks and styling but sorely lacking in grunt.

Hyundai Veloster Turbo open for booking with a targeted mid-April launch - At last!!!!

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has opened its order books now for the refreshed 2016 Veloster Turbo which is expected to arrive on Malaysian shores in mid-April this year.  Fully imported from Korea, the Veloster Turbo is Hyundai’s turbocharged version of the unique 1+2 door sporty coupe. It is the first Hyundai vehicle to be fitted with the 1.6-litre T-GDI engine that features a high-compression, twin-scroll turbocharger combined with the GDI system and transmitted to the front wheels via a 7 speed dual clutch transmission. Oh, all of that translates to 186ps and 265Nm torque and a 0-100kmh time of around 8.4 seconds. Prices are estimated to be around the RM150,000 range. Performance and in some ways, price, are not too bad for a brand new entry level 'coupe'.