Hyundai 'Remixes' Its Veloster to Appeal to Younger Buyers

HYANNIS, MASS. (11/06/2012)(readMedia)-- While most of the vehicles at the 2012 SEMA Show, a tradeshow featuring specialty aftermarket auto parts, were purely an experiment in fun, one of the 2013 Hyundai Veloster models displayed will soon find its way to showroom floors. Characterized by exclusive features and options aimed at younger buyers, the special-edition Veloster RE:MIX revealed in Las Vegas last week will go on sale in December.

Starting at less than $20,000, the Veloster RE:MIX will be available in a custom Sprint Gray paintjob or one of five other finishes, including Boston Red, Marathon Blue, 26.2 Yellow, Century White and Ultra Black. Gunmetal-finish alloy wheels complement the exterior colors, while optional graphics allow a high level of personalization. Inside, a 450-watt audio system with an eight-inch subwoofer will let drivers turn the music up to 11, while upgrades like a leather steering wheel, a leather shift knob and a push-button ignition give the coupe an upmarket feel.

"A lot of younger drivers want a way to reflect their independent personality in their ride; they don't want to drive into work with the same car their boss has," said JJ Hoyt, general manager of Balise Hyundai of Cape Cod, a Hyannis, Massachusetts Hyundai dealer. "The Veloster RE:MIX is especially appealing because it starts with the aggressive, youthful styling of the standard model and adds just the right amount of customization, all without pushing the price up to an unaffordable level."

The idea of the Veloster RE:MIX was conceived through the RE:MIX Lab, Hyundai's national tour celebrating music, art, fashion, gaming, technology and culture. While the series has featured several bespoke Hyundai concept vehicles, the Veloster RE:MIX will be its first production car. Hyundai hopes to increase interest in its brand from younger buyers through the concert series and the special-edition cars that come from it. According to USA Today, the automaker will likely release at least one RE:MIX production model each year.

A few Veloster concepts joined the RE:MIX model at SEMA, including the Velocity, a joint project between Hyundai North America's design and engineering teams and performance tuner Cosworth. The Veloster Velocity takes the bold design of the stock model and pushes it to the extreme, donning a lower body kit, an oversized rear wing spoiler and a "number 1" racing graphic.

Under the hood, the Velocity's aggressive makeover continues with Cosworth's modifications to the 1.6-liter engine, which include performance pistons, rods and a turbocharger that give the unit more than 400 horsepower and a robust 350 pound-feet of torque. The cabin also showcases racing-inspired touches like raven and scarlet suede upholstery with red stitching, as well as Sparco helmets, gloves, shoes and seatbelts for the driver.

"The Velocity really pushes the envelope in terms of the Veloster's style and performance, and I'm sure it got many current owners thinking about what they could do to their model with aftermarket parts," added Hoyt. "Even amidst all the other tricked-out cars at SEMA, the Velocity stood out, and that's partly because its creators started with a very unique design to begin with."

About Balise Hyundai of Cape Cod:

Part of the Balise Auto Group, Balise Hyundai of Cape Cod offers Massachusetts drivers a full selection of stylish, fuel-efficient Hyundai sedans, hatchbacks and crossovers. Their broad inventory is backed by a friendly, knowledgeable sales staff and an expert service team that keeps Hyundai owners out on the road where they belong. Contact the Balise Hyundai team by phone at 508-815-4006, browse their inventory online at www.balisehyundaiofcapecod.com, or visit their dealership in person at 556 Yarmouth Rd. in Hyannis, Mass. They can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BaliseHyundaiCapeCod.