Following a recent rumor that appeared to suggest that the 2020 Hyundai Veloster N would get a bigger 2.5 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine, Hyundai has appeared to move quickly to silence this speculation by unveiling the 2020 Veloster N hatchback. The bigger engine is not in the cards, but the quirky three door does gain a few new tricks which should help it remain vibrant and fresh for the 2020 model year.
The big change here is the all new DCT which is being used on the formerly manual only Veloster N for the first time ever. In this case, it is an all new eight speed “wet” dual clutch gearbox. The key word here is wet, since these types of transmissions are usually used in applications where higher torque loads are part of the menu. Here it’s no different, with the DCT actually providing a seven percent boost to the torque figure which now rests at 278 lb-ft of torque. This is even more remarkable when one considers that it is coming from the same 2.0 liter 275 horsepower turbocharged four cylinder engine that sees duty in the 2019 model when equipped with the Performance Package.
Hyundai claims that the increased torque comes from the N Grin Shift (NGS) – no that’s not a joke – which actually allows the engine to go into an overboost mode and also maximizes transmission response for up to 20 seconds. The trick transmission even comes with N Power Shift (NPS) and N Track Sense (NTS) with booth systems actually working in tandem to help control gear shifts depending on what the situation calls for. All of this can still be accessed through the carryover 8-inch infotainment system, which is now paired with a hearty JBL premium sound system.
To help compliment the new transmission, the 2020 Hyundai Veloster N can also be equipped with all new N Light Sport Bucket seats. Besides being lighter than the standard cloth seats, these track focused set of thrones also feature a light up N logo in the upper portion of the backrest for improved aesthetics. The exterior has largely been left alone in this suite of updates, and that’s fine with us since the Veloster already has that particular aspect firmly under control, and the last thing N designers need to do is a radical shakeup of the looks so early into the Veloster’s life cycle.
The 2020 Hyundai Veloster N will go on sale in South Korea later this month, with global distribution kicking off some time after that. In the case of the U.S. market, look for the first units to arrive in Hyundai showrooms later this summer.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.