For sure, the 2+1 door layout sets the Veloster apart from other more conventional sporty-flavored models, but at the end of the day, it remains a front-engine, front-wheel drive car with not a whole lot of power. You may have a different opinion about the new Veloster ‘Midship’ Concept, though, which was presented at the 2014 Busan International Motor Show in Korea.
As the name suggests, the engine sits behind the driver or as Hyundai eloquently puts it, it has a “mid-engined (RM: rear midship) mini-supercar layout”. And it’s not the 201hp 1.6-liter Turbo either, but a turbocharged 2.0-liter Theta GDI unit churning out 295hp or 299PS.
The strictly two-seater model also sports a lightweight aluminum suspension and a modified, high-rigidity chassis.
Developed by the same Hyundai High Performance Team responsible for the i20 WRC in its initial form, the Veloster Midship is fully driveable, but unfortunately, the Koreans stated that it was made “to explore possibilities for the Veloster chassis and is currently not related to any future production model”.
By John Halas
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