(August 29, 2011) COSTA MESA, Calif. — Hyundai's newest affordable sporty car, the Veloster, will start at $18,060 including destination charge for the manual transmission, Hyundai has announced. The six-speed automatic version will begin at $19,310.



Hyundai says that the Veloster, which will go on sale around the first of October, combines design elements of a coupe and the functionality of a hatchback, while incorporating an additional passenger-side rear door for uncompromised rear-seat access.

In the past, some coupes have used limited access rear-hinged access doors. These coupes have required opening the front door before the rear door could be opened, an inconvenience for  drivers and passengers, and difficult to use in tight parking lot situations. Hyundai’s new thinking implements a conventionally-hinged door on the passenger side, providing easy access to the rear seats and a hidden door handle to maintain its coupe design.

Hyundai said the car is intended to attract Generation Y buyers and compete with sporty small cars such as the Mini Cooper and Scion tC.

The base Veloster is powered by a 138-hp, 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injection four-cylinder engine teamed with a six-speed manual transmission.

Standard features include a 7-inch LCD video touch screen with which users can navigate Hyundai's new Blue Link telematics system. System features include roadside assistance, voice-to-text message capability and various information/entertainment functions.