Hyundai shocks Korea with mid-engined Veloster concept

Thu, 29 May 2014

There are many things we love here at Autoblog, but one of the quirkiest is the mid-engined hot hatch, whether it's the Renaultsport Clio V6 or the Volkswagen GTI W12-650 concept. Unfortunately, we can never seem to get our hands on one – the former never having made the transatlantic journey and the latter remained strictly a concept. And now we've got one more to salivate over.

It's called, simply enough, the Veloster Midship concept, and Hyundai is unveiling it this week at the Busan Motor Show in South Korea. As you might have guessed, it's essentially a Veloster with the engine – a 2.0-liter Theta turbo four producing 296 horsepower – mounted behind the two seats. It's also got a lightweight aluminum suspension, a reinforced chassis and extreme aero to help that mid-mounted turbo engine do its thing.

The project was undertaken by the same team that developed the initial i20 WRC rally car, but unfortunately as Hyundai itself says in the press release below (released with the solitary image above), "The Midship is a concept only to explore possibilities for the Veloster chassis and is currently not related to any future production model." Which is a bit of a shame, but hardly a surprise.

Hyundai unveils high-performance 'Veloster Midship' concept at 2014 Busan International Motor Show

- Veloster 'Midship' (RM) concept car revealed
- Mid-engined, two-seater Veloster, generating 220kW/300PS from 2.0-litre turbo engine
- All-new AG large front-wheel-drive sedan also unveiled

29th May, 2014 - Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea's largest automaker, today unveiled the exciting 'Veloster Midship' (known internally as 'RM' or 'Rear Mid') show car at the 2014 Busan International Motor Show.

Developed by Hyundai Motor Company's High Performance Team - who also developed the i20 WRC in its initial form - overseen by Mr Im Sebin and Mr Hwang Injin, the two-seater RM concept is fully driveable and boasts the latest Hyundai performance technologies, including a turbocharged 2.0-litre Theta GDI engine generating 220kW, lightweight aluminium suspension, a high-rigidity chassis and a mid-engined (RM: rear midship) mini-supercar layout.

The engine is located behind the occupants and within the wheelbase, offering ideal weight distribution and handling balance through corners. The Midship is a concept only to explore possibilities for the Veloster chassis and is currently not related to any future production model.

Also receiving its global reveal at the show is the all-new 'AG' large sedan that underlines Hyundai's position as a manufacturer of premium, distinctively-styled vehicles. Displaying an elegant yet simple exterior, 'AG' continues the modern interpretation of Fluidic Sculpture 2.0, with a distinctive long nose, and a refined character-line that runs the length of the wheelbase.

This new front-wheel drive flagship sedan will offer quiet and sophisticated driving comfort, while adopting a series of advanced convenience features.

AG is expected to reinforce the premium image of the Hyundai brand when it hits Korean showrooms in the second half of this year. No decision has been made yet as to whether the AG will be sold in overseas markets.

By Noah Joseph