SCOOP: Hyundai Readying Veloster Coupe to Take on VW Scirocco and Honda CR-Z

These are the latest spy pictures (see the scoop video here) of Hyundai's upcoming compact coupe based on the 2007 Veloster Concept. The South Korean company's answer to the VW Scirocco and Honda CR-Z hybrid will act as a replacement to the Tiburon, otherwise simply known as the Coupe, and it will be offered with naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines.

The new car that may or may not keep the Veloster nameplate, will most likely make its world premiere as early as September at the Paris motorshow and go on sale on both sides of the Atlantic early next year.

While the production model is expected to retain much of the Veloster concept's styling including its shooting brake-like roofline, it won't be a two door model. Instead, Hyundai has opted for an asymmetric body with two doors on the passenger side of the car and a single longer door on the driver side.

The 2+2 sport model will be front wheel-drive only with the base version making use of a new direct-injected 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 140-horsepower, and according to Hyundai, a combined fuel economy of over 40 mpg US (5.8lt/100km or 48mpg UK).

A turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter petrol unit producing close to 200HP along with a 1.7-liter diesel engine for the European market, and a more powerful four-cylinder petrol for North America, may also be an option.

SPY VIDEO: 2012 Hyundai Veloster Coupe Caught Testing in Europe

A prototype model of Hyundai's long-awaited Veloster sport hatch that will essentially act as a replacement for the Tiburon, otherwise known as the Coupe, across the pond and other markets, was spotted running around public roads in Europe.

We're not sure if Hyundai will keep the "Veloster" name of the concept car, but we do know that the South Korean automaker's proposal will compete head on with other low roof sport hatchbacks like the VW Scirocco and the more recent Honda CR-Z hybrid.

From what we can tell, the production version will remain close to the 2007 Veloster Concept in all but one aspect; as you can see in the video after the jump, the road-going model features an asymmetric body with a longer door on the driver's side. This could indicate the presence of a second, suicide-style, door on the passenger's side - think MINI Clubman.

Under the hood, Hyundai has already confirmed one powerplant, the firm's new 1.6-liter four cylinder engine with direct injection pushing out 140-horsepower in entry-level trim. The company said it expects this model to return a combined fuel economy of over 40 mpg US (5.8lt/100km or 48mpg UK).

Rumored, but not confirmed, are a turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter petrol unit producing close to 200HP and a diesel engine for the European market as well as a more powerful four-cylinder petrol for North America.

The production version of the Veloster is expected to make its European debut at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show at in September and its U.S. premiere at the 2011 Detroit show next January, with sales following shortly after.

Source: Youtube/AMS

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HYUNDAI VELOSTER CONCEPT

SCOOP: 2011 Hyundai Genesis Sedan Receives Minor Updates, Including BMW-Like Gearshifter

The Genesis sedan has only been out in the market for two years, but Hyundai is getting ready to present the 2011MY with some barely noticeable styling upgrades in its home market.

Scooped here in South Korea completely undisguised, the 2011 Genesis sedan appears to get a reworked front bumper with newly styled air ducts and trim, more prominent side skirts, a chunkier chrome strip above the license plate and a new rear bumper with reshaped exhaust tips.

From what we can tell from these pictures, the only visible change inside concerns the new and, as you can see in the photos after the jump, very BMW-like, gear shifter of the automatic transmission. There's nothing official on the car yet, though there has been talk of a 5.0-liter V8 engine joining the range.

It's unclear if or when the subtly updated Genesis sedan will be headed to the States.

Photos: Bobaedream Forums / Via: Thecarblogger

2011MY Hyundai Genesis

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2010MY Hyundai Genesis

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BMW Gear Shifter

SPY SHOTS: Is this the 2011 Hyundai Elantra or the New Accent Sedan?

Most of the times we receive spy photos from our partners, we don't have any questions or doubts about the type and make of the vehicles that we're dealing with. But once in a while, some scoops baffle us.

These spy shots were labeled as the next generation 2011 Hyundai Elantra. And while we have no doubt that it's a Hyundai, we are not at all convinced that what we're looking at here is the new Elantra. In fact, we believe that there's a possibility it may be the saloon version of the next generation Accent.

Evidently, you're wondering what made us consider the new Accent.

Well, compared to other spy shots of the Elantra here in the U.S., this camouflaged prototype that was spied in Germany appears to be more compact in dimensions and it features a less swooping roofline. Furthermore, the shape of the window frame at the rear door is also different.

A third option is that this may be the Euro-spec Elantra, but for the time being, we're leaning towards the Accent.

You can compare these photos with spy shots of the Elantra from other sites by clicking the links below, and tell us what you think.

Accent or Elantra, one thing is for sure: the styling of the prototype model is clearly inspired by the larger Sonata, and that should be something from a design standpoint.

2011 Hyundai Elantra Scoop Links: Autoblog, Worldcarfans, Edmunds

SCOOP: Mystery Hyundai Crossover Model Looks Like Production Version of HED-5 Concept

Our man with the long lens captured this unmarked Hyundai prototype in disguise parked at the Korean automaker's European headquarters in Germany.

It's obvious that it's a compact crossover / MPV model, while the manufacture's label on the windshield reveals that it's powered by Hyundai's 1.7-liter VGT diesel engine that develops 117 horsepower in the ix35 (Euro Tuscon), but which model is it?

Well, the spy shots had us baffled for a while but after careful observation of the prototype's size (as seen in the pictures), shape, profile and certain details such as the styling of the window line, our best guess would be the production version of the Korean firm's HED-5 i-Mode concept that unveiled at the Geneva Salon in 2008.

The HED-5 i-Mode was also presented at the Los Angeles show the same year with Hyundai announcing then that the crossover has been approved for production with a six-seater model to within the next couple of years.

We've enclosed photos of the HED-5 i-Mode below so you can compare them to the prototype model. Take a look at them and tell us what you think.

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HED-5 i-MODE CONCEPT