New Hyundai Veloster Turbo with 201HP Eyes the VW Golf GTI and Mini Cooper S [38 Photos + Video]

Well, as they say, better late than never: the turbocharged version of Hyundai’s Veloster coupe was officially unveiled today at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show.

The South Korean maker has set the bar pretty high with the 2013 Veloster Turbo aiming at the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI (given the absence of the Scirocco in the States) and the Mini Cooper S.

Under its sculpted bonnet lies a new 1.6-liter direct-injection gasoline engine with a twin scroll turbocharger that churns out 201HP at 6,000 rpm and 195 lb-ft (264Nm) of torque from 1,750-4,500 rpm in North American specification. That’s a healthy 63HP increase over the regular Veloster.

There’s also a new engine manifold and a different exhaust system with two free flowing circular tailpipes that promise to give the engine a more aggressive sound.

The most potent Veloster is available with an in-house developed six-speed manual gearbox as standard or an optional six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles, both of which drive the front wheels.

We’ll have to wait for the acceleration and top speed figures, but the Korean automaker revealed that the Turbo will deliver an estimated 27 mpg city and 38 mpg highway for manual transmission models.

Hyundai says there was no need to fiddle around with the Veloster’s front McPherson struts and rear torsion-beam axle suspension, which remain unchanged. However, the Turbo does get a quicker ratio steering rack and a revised steering calibration for better feedback and control.

The Veloster Turbo has the same a 104.3-inch wheelbase, but is 1.2 inches longer (167.3 inches) and 0.6 inches wider (71.1 inches) than the normally aspirated model.

To separate it from its more humble siblings and aside from the twin round exhausts, the Turbo gains a redesigned front fascia, headlamps with LED accents, different fog lights, side mirror-integrated indicators, LED taillights and 18-inch alloys with chrome inserts wrapped around 215/40R18 tires. Hyundai is also offering the Turbo with its first-ever Matte Gray paint.

Inside, there are full leather seats with the word “Turbo” stitched into the seatbacks, plus a push-button starter, alloy pedals and an enhanced TFT screen between the tachometer and speedometer..

“The Turbo further broadens Veloster’s hero role in the Hyundai line-up to attract our next generation of buyers”, said Mike O’Brien, vice president of Hyundai Motor America. “It’s powerful, high-tech and fuel-efficient, attributes which we think make Veloster Turbo the ultimate innovation in the sport coupe segment.”

The new Veloster Turbo is scheduled to go on sale in the States next summer.