What is it?
Think 'four-door' and you think 'saloon' (or 'sedan' if you're American), yet the Hyundai Veloster is a four-door coupé with a hatchback. How can that be? It's because one side has only one door, the other two. Strange, but true. This is a kooky coupé in the same way the MINI Countryman is a bonkers estate.
But the Veloster's door layout affords it genuine practicality, because the two-door side will always be the passenger side (unlike the MINI). It also looks the business, as you hopefully agree, and will debut Hyundai's first dual clutch automatic when it hits UK showrooms in October this year. Oh, and undercut the VW Scirocco.
Why's it here?
The Veloster - based on the i30 chassis - is essentially the replacement for the defunct Hyundai Coupé, a car that gave the Korean maker a shot of credibility; the Hyundai Accent was instantly cooler by association with the Coupé, like George McFly was when he rocked up the Enchantment Under The Sea dance with Calvin Klein.
Hyundai doesn't need credibility anymore, but it could do with something cracking to put on a plinth in its showrooms. This is it.
Show stopper or floor filler?
We'll go with show stopper here. Even the name is growing on us. Some of the concept chintz like the huge central tailpipe is unlikely to make the showroom cut, but you're still looking at a car very few would be ashamed to drive. With prices starting at £16,000 and a 200bhp turbo flagship on the way, this could be quite the offbeat family car for 2012.
Mark Nichol - 11 Jan 2011