Tonight on Grassroots Motorsports LIVE!: The New Veloster N

DUUUUUUUDE!!!!!!!1!!!1!!!!1ONE!!!!!

Hmmmm.....strange that bobzilla would be enthused by this one!  :) 

I'm actually as eager as you guys to hear what JG has to say.  I really, really liked the Turbo R---- I'm hoping this is even better.   I have to admit though, even if the N is spectacular,  I'll still think the R model is a heck of a buy at $22K.  

I agree, I was super impressed by the Turbo R and the value is almost unsurpassed.

I think they actually look good as modern cars go.

I agree with everyone so far, which is rare. 

Then again that’s exactly what happened with the R so I’m also not surprised!

Technically we won't be live from Thunderhill, but rather a Holiday Inn in the central valley of California or some such hellhole I've reserved for myself. We did get some Thunderhill track time today, though, and had some good chats with Hyundai brass. Long story short, the car is the real deal. Tune in tomorrow night and we'll chat about it and I'l bust out some video.

Now that's red!  I like it.

I'm so unreasonably excited for this car.

Cannot wait to hear about this thing. Thinking it might be the replacement for my Fiesta ST.

I planning my day so my evening is free for this.  

My regional manager is coming in and we might grab dinner so I might have to throw down a reason why I have to leave early.   

YES CANT WAIT. 

Please ask pricing and color options!

3 years ago I would have been equally enthused.  However, after living with AWD for 2+ years, I'll never go back to FWD.

jstein77 said:

3 years ago I would have been equally enthused.  However, after living with AWD for 2+ years, I'll never go back to FWD.

Really depends what kind of driving and racing you're doing. I'm personally sick of the super heavy and understeery nature of the current AWD cars available: Golf R, STI, WRX, S3, RS etc. 

An enjoyable review - the host talks a lot with Albert Biermann. Excited to see GRM segment tonight.

https://youtu.be/DlX_OVUGfFs

In reply to goingnowherefast :

Please don't include my RS in that group of AWD cars.  It really doesn't handle like that at all, hence its performance advantage over all those others.  In addition, the latest Sti's have improved a lot over earlier versions.  Here's proof - the FTD-winning vehicle at last Sunday's DeLand autocross was a completely factory-stock RS identical to mine.  You also might notice that an Sti took fifth overall:

jstein77 said:

In reply to goingnowherefast :

Please don't include my RS in that group of AWD cars.  It really doesn't handle like that at all, hence its performance advantage over all those others.  In addition, the latest Sti's have improved a lot over earlier versions.  Here's proof - the FTD-winning vehicle at last Sunday's DeLand autocross was a completely factory-stock RS identical to mine.  You also might notice that an Sti took fifth overall:

No offense, but I just don't think you can base a car's performance off a small showing local autocross. Hence why people don't do that. 

As for my experience in one, I have 3x track days in an RS and I think I have instructed maybe 5-6 students with them. Truly I am tired of having RDU shutdown issues that lead to even more understeer conditions. 235 tires and not wide enough for a almost 3,500 pound car with nearly 60% of the weight up front. Of the group mentioned, I actually like the newest STI the most. Most of the bad habits are dialed out easily with camber and a large rear sway bar. In addition, considering you can get a Mustang GT or Honda CTR for the same price that will run laps around the RS when stock, even more so when modded (CTR can fit 285's up front with no modifications), yeah I just don't understand the RS. Great roadcar, not good track car. Just my opinion, don't take it too seriously. 

JG, I'm sure you guys sent my invitation in the mail. We'll just blame the post office for losing it. 

I think we can all agree the off-throttle popping is a great thing. A Hyundai that's main purpose is to be fun and approachable on track - super cool. Maybe this can counterbalance Ford's exit from that space. 

Ind regards to the traction/stability control: "off means off. All the way off." I like it. 

accordionfolder said:

I think we can all agree the off-throttle popping is a great thing. A Hyundai that's main purpose is to be fun and approachable on track - super cool. Maybe this can counterbalance Ford's exit from that space. 

The popping and burbling thing is totally a gimmick that provides no beneficial purpose EXCEPT FOR BEING AWESOME!!!!!!!

JG Pasterjak said:

Technically we won't be live from Thunderhill, but rather a Holiday Inn in the central valley of California

 

Wait, I estimated I’ve spent 750+ nights on the road for work mainly at HI Express’ and I’m going watch you at a Holiday Inn?

You do know the soap, hand lotion, and cinnamon breakfast rolls all smell the same.  They have a theme going at HI Express.  

KBB just confirmed it will be <30k with the performance package. 

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlmpFtkde6M

JG Pasterjak said:

accordionfolder said:

I think we can all agree the off-throttle popping is a great thing. A Hyundai that's main purpose is to be fun and approachable on track - super cool. Maybe this can counterbalance Ford's exit from that space. 

The popping and burbling thing is totally a gimmick that provides no beneficial purpose EXCEPT FOR BEING AWESOME!!!!!!!

yep. And I love it. The Forte with the header/cat/cat-back would burble nicely on decel. I really miss that noise. 

I want it to have cool seats. Not just comfortable supportive seats, but cool ones that aren't just black/grey. 

JG Pasterjak said:

accordionfolder said:

I think we can all agree the off-throttle popping is a great thing. A Hyundai that's main purpose is to be fun and approachable on track - super cool. Maybe this can counterbalance Ford's exit from that space. 

The popping and burbling thing is totally a gimmick that provides no beneficial purpose EXCEPT FOR BEING AWESOME!!!!!!!

When my RS does it, it makes me feel like a dumbass kid again, but its also nice to be able to put it in "old man" mode and just cruise.  Modern cars can be damned cool sometimes.

I really, really, really want to drive one.

Stefan said:

JG Pasterjak said:

accordionfolder said:

I think we can all agree the off-throttle popping is a great thing. A Hyundai that's main purpose is to be fun and approachable on track - super cool. Maybe this can counterbalance Ford's exit from that space. 

The popping and burbling thing is totally a gimmick that provides no beneficial purpose EXCEPT FOR BEING AWESOME!!!!!!!

When my RS does it, it makes me feel like a dumbass kid again, but its also nice to be able to put it in "old man" mode and just cruise.  Modern cars can be damned cool sometimes.

I know I'm a total dork, but I really enjoyed that a lot on the RS test drive. I would most certainly do the "burble plus" option if I bought one and had it tuned.

It's funny I'm not THAT surprised by the Koreans coming in and making something this awesome because I've been a fanboi for years. But it's fun to watch people that haven't been a fanboi getting excited over something awesome from them. I get to sit back and go "see, I told you." 

This is the first Korean car that I'm interested in. Pretty big change for both Kia and Hyundai to be making cars we GRMers are interested in. Could I say that even 5 years ago?

That said, I drive a Mazda with Ford badges built by Kia. A Ford Festiva that I love! So I guess I'm not as hard of a sell as some. :)

I just want it to be an Elantra hatch and get the Veloster nonsense out of the way.

In reply to harlard :

I get that, but the 200 pound weight savings over the Elantra hatch goes a long way in my book.

Datsun310Guy said:

JG Pasterjak said:

Technically we won't be live from Thunderhill, but rather a Holiday Inn in the central valley of California

 

Wait, I estimated I’ve spent 750+ nights on the road for work mainly at HI Express’ and I’m going watch you at a Holiday Inn?

You do know the soap, hand lotion, and cinnamon breakfast rolls all smell the same.  They have a theme going at HI Express.  

Update. It's a Mariott Courtyard. Lotion is fine, though.

In reply to JG Pasterjak :

Is it in a basket?

On the bathroom countertop next to the sink of course. 

And we're going live in about seven minutes. 

And we're live.

And tonight we're just live on Facebook. Later on you can watch it via tape delay on YouTube. 

And now I'm just hitting refresh on Hyundai's sight waiting for the configurator to go live. Sounds like the chassis is better than the outgoing Focus ST, with more toys than the GTI (and more power) at a significantly lower price point the the Civic R. That's a winning recipe. (Now if they would only offer a trim level similar to what Ford did with the ST-R which was the factory available, caged, body in white).

captdownshift said:

And now I'm just hitting refresh on Hyundai's sight waiting for the configurator to go live. Sounds like the chassis is better than the outgoing Focus ST, with more toys than the GTI (and more power) at a significantly lower price point the the Civic R. That's a winning recipe. (Now if they would only offer a trim level similar to what Ford did with the ST-R which was the factory available, caged, body in white).

Me too. Please post here when the configuration tool is up!

I was so sick last night or I would have been online watching this live. Watching the youtube recap now. LOVE the interview. 

You know, I was putting Sonata rotors and Tiburon calipers on my Elantra back in '04. Parts bin engineering.

JG Pasterjak said:

accordionfolder said:

I think we can all agree the off-throttle popping is a great thing. A Hyundai that's main purpose is to be fun and approachable on track - super cool. Maybe this can counterbalance Ford's exit from that space. 

The popping and burbling thing is totally a gimmick that provides no beneficial purpose EXCEPT FOR BEING AWESOME!!!!!!!