Hyundai CEO Krafcik on production Veloster: "Think of it like a four-passenger Honda CRX"

Last February, we revealed that a production version of the Hyundai Veloster was in the works and would likely hit the market as a late 2011 or 2012 model. At the time, we were hoping for a modern reincarnation of the classic Honda CRX, and it seems like Hyundai may be answering our calls.


In an exclusive Inside Line interview, Krafcik said the car will look 70-80 percent like the Veloster and will pack a surprise body style that will be a segment first. One look at the C-shaped backlight/sunroof on the concept (there's a rear shot after the jump) might be a good guess, but Krafcik would only say this: "It might be doors or a unique roof or something with the hatch. But it won't be like anything out there before in the small car segment."


Krafcik goes on to say the car will be significantly smaller than the firm's own Genesis Coupe (not to mention the Kia Forte) and it will be powered by a 1.6-liter four-banger fortified with direct injection that will offer up 140 horsepower while returning over 40 miles per gallon.



But what about the name? Will it really be called the Veloster? Krafcik said the name has not been decided, but Veloster, Tiburon and several other names are being considered.

Whatever it's called, Krafcik says it'll be at Hyundai dealers by the end of 2011.
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