Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing deserve a round of applause for their recent video antics that spread through the Internet like a leaked photo from a celebrity cell phone.

This time around, the team took their Veloster Rally Car out to the golf course where it replaced the traditional golf cart. Almost everything you can imagine that shouldn’t be combined into a video, is. We’re talking golf clubs, golf balls, a 500-hp Veloster with 600 lb-ft of torque, and cows. Yes, we said cows.

Really there’s no reason behind this video, other than the fact that millions of people will watch it which means millions of eye balls on Hyundai’s little Veloster.

Check out the video after the break.

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Hyundai has launched an inventive social marketing program called the “HYUNDAI RACE” at Times Square, one of the busiest city cross streets in the world. By downloading a controller app from the iTunes app store, participants can enjoy the HYUNDAI RACE featuring the all-new Hyundai Veloster on a prominent billboard via Hyundai WiFi.

Steve Shannon, Hyundai Motor America vice president of Marketing said, “Having a large video display in Times Square certainly creates awareness among consumers through creative graphic elements. But Hyundai’s racing game takes engagement to a new level. The game invites the audience to interact with Hyundai in the middle of one of the world’s busiest venues for commerce and tourism. It’s a great example of our innovative marketing at work.”

HYUNDAI RACE  is played by tilting a smart phone like one would steer a car. Players race their Veloster against the clock and their score will get posted on the billboard to be ranked amongst other players. HYUNDAI RACE will be up on the billboard in Times Square until the end of this year, and Hyundai will continue launching a number of other interactive experiences in Times Square thoughout 2012.

GALLERY: Hyundai Veloster

Hyundai has been enjoying immense growth and success in the North American market over the last few years, having posted 21-percent growth in the first 10 months of 2011.  But now, Hyundai is only planning to increase production by 8-percent for the United States for 2012.

Dave Zuchowski, executive vice president of sales for Hyundai Motor America, stated that they expect Hyundai’s growth curve to slow down a little bit, but stated that “it’s a function of global capacity constraints.” Hyundai’s 2012 growth will mostly come from new product sales such as their Veloster coupe and the new 2012 Azera sedan.

We’re looking forward to the 2013 Hyundai Genesis to finally hit the showrooms, we’re going to go out on a limb here and say that it’ll sell really well.

[Source: Automotive News]

Hyundai hyped its Veloster and the automotive media had high hopes for the innovative odd four-door hatchback, but when the reviews came out, the praise was missing. Good? Yes. But great? Hardly.

Still, Hyundai is calling the Veloster an early success, capturing the highest percentage of the “compact sporty car” market in its first full month on sale. Veloster sales accounted for 31% of this niche market, topping the Scion tC and Fiat 500, each taking 15% of the pie, and even topping the MINI Cooper, which accounts for 29 percent of the segment.

Perhaps more impressive is how high demand is for the car, with Hyundai indicating that it takes a Veloster just 8 days to move off a dealer lot. By comparison, the next closest competitor is the Scion tC, which sells in 22 days. The CR-Z, the car Hyundai pegged the Veloster at most, hoping to draw-in a legion of disappointed Honda enthusiasts, takes a brutal 139 days to sell.

According to J.D. Power numbers the highest percentage of Veloster buyers are already Hyundai customers (20%), suggesting either that the car is helping to retain customers, or that it is cannibalizing sales of other models. The most popular conquest brands are Chevrolet, Honda and Ford, with the most popular trade-in models for the Veloster being the Honda Civic and Mazda3.

Hyundai claims one major reason for the car’s success is its value, with an average transaction price of $20,902 compared to $21,154 for the tC, $21,383 for the CR-Z and a spendy $25,950 for the MINI Cooper.

Similar good things are happening in the rest of Hyundai’s 40-mpg lineup says Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik during a recent presentation at the Hyundai Technical Center in Ann Arbor, MI, with the Accent with just 20 days of cars in stock while over 70% of buyers are conquests from other brands. “The only reason the Accent isn’t the best seller in the segment is because can’t produce them fast enough,” he said.

Much the same can be said for the Elantra, which has “surpassed expectations” says Krafcik, saying it’s the fourth most shopped car in the entire industry, behind the Accord, Sonata and Camry.

As it stands, the supply issue is a major concern, for Hyundai and its dealers, with near-excessive demand for Hyundai’s well-priced high-mpg models like the Veloster.

GALLERY: Hyundai Veloster

Read AutoGuide’s Hyundai Veloster Review Here and discuss this story at Veloster.org

The Hyundai Veloster is arguably this year’s hot sport compact, and Hyundai came out in full force with a collection of Velosters covering both the “show” and “go” ends of the spectrum.

First up is the hotly anticipated ARK Performance Veloster, featuring the first application of a turbocharger on the Veloster. With Hyundai’s subsequent announcement of a Veloster Turbo for 2012, the ARK gives us a pretty good preview of what to expect – a twin scroll turbocharger putting out 210 horsepower. The wild green paint scheme and tuner-esque wheels likely won’t make the cut.

The PM Lifestyle Veloster was developed by Universal Technical Institute, a training school for auto mechanics. Konig wheels, carbon fiber hood, a custom interior and the usual bolt-ons add visual flair and boost power to 163-horsepower. The Hyundai Re:Mix Veloster Music Veloster is obviously focused on audio, with a full DJ deck setup installed in the trunk while the Re:Mix Gaming Veloster is focused on video games, with an XBOX in place of the DJ booth.

Finally, the RMR Global Rallycross Veloster was built by Rhys Millen Racing to take on the competition in 2WD Rallycross. The sport exists in a much different form in the rest of the world, as opposed to the X-Games style Rallycross popular on our shores. Lightweight body panels, a 300 horsepower turbocharged engine, rally suspension, safety modifications and rally tires help take the Veloster from sport compact into a real deal race car.

For more SEMA coverage, click here

Gallery: Hyundai Veloster SEMA Concepts

ARK Performance has been hard at work on their SEMA 2011 Project Hyundai Veloster, and now finished photos of the vehicle have popped up online at Veloster.org. The theme of the project was to build a rally-inspired Veloster, featuring a custom twin-scroll turbo setup giving it 210-hp while its bright green and flat gray paint scheme gives it the aggressive look it needs.

ARK fabricated the custom turbo kit and intercooler system and also outfitted the Veloster with a six-piston brake kit, eight-point chromoly rally-style roll cage, and DTP track coilover system. Additional suspension modifications include front and rear upper sway bars, camber arms and control arms, ARK’s GRIP dual exhaust, downpipes and test pipes.

For the inside, ARK turned to JPM Coachworks to outfit the Veloster with Alcantara interior upgrades on the seats, shift boot, dashboard, headliner, doors and visors. A custom stereo install featuring Image Dynamics components was also done thanks to Adam Perry.

ARK focused on the aesthetics, transforming the subtle Veloster to one mean looking machine thanks to their CFX Designs line of accessories. ARK outfitted the Veloster with their own front and rear wide fenders, front lip, side skirts, rear bumper and grille. In the rear is an ARK SFX rear wing while OneEighty supplied the project with new headlights, taillights and fog lamps. The wheels are Advan’s RZ in Gunmetal wrapped with Nitto NT05 rubber. The custom paint on the body was done by Beyond Autobody.

GALLERY: Ark Performance Hyundai Veloster

[Source: Veloster.org]

See AutoGuide’s complete 2011 SEMA Show preview here and look for live coverage starting November 1st.

Hyundai has already admitted that they have two sets of tooling for their three-door Veloster, so that Hyundai can switch the door’s location for either left or right-hand drive markets, and the company has admitted that a Veloster with two rear doors is a possibility for the future.

Hyundai is apparently planning a five-door version for European markets, and company representatives were coy when asked whether it was coming to the U.S. Hyundai was similarly evasive regarding the Elantra Touring coming to the U.S., but with previous versions having already made the trip across the ocean, we might as well expect it at an upcoming auto show.

[Source: Car and Driver]

They just love hatchbacks in Europe. In fact, they love them so much it’s possible to sell nearly identical models successfully. Could an automaker do the same in North America? Hyundai might just try and find out.

According to a report by Car & Driver the Korean automaker isn’t ruling-out selling both the Elantra Touring (Euro-market i30) and a new 5-door Veloster model here. While the Veloster is made unique by it’s single door on the driver’s side and two doors on the passenger side, Hyundai is reportedly working on a 5-door hatchback version (with two doors on each side) for right-hand drive markets like the UK.

Hyundai is big on small fuel-efficient cars, but this product duplication seems dangerous and if Hyundai takes the safe road it will leave the Veloster in its funky form to help appeal to the Gen-Y crowd, with the Elantra Touring hitting out shores some time next year.

GALLERY: 2012 Hyundai Veloster

GALLERY: 2013 Hyundai Elantra Touring

[Source: Car&Driver]

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2012 Hyundai Veloster review

Discuss this story at Veloster.org

The SEMA Show is sneaking up on us again and one of the first vehicles we’re learning about is the ARK Performance Hyundai Veloster.

Set to be unveiled at the Korean automaker’s stand at the annual aftermarket expo and built by ARK Performance, the rally-car styled Veloster will get some massively flared fenders and a custom interior – with the obligatory blinged-out audio system like no one told them it’s not 1998. Perhaps more exciting is a twin-scroll turbocharger under the hood helping the Veloster make 210-hp. While not breathtaking performance, it’s a solid hint at the amount of power a rumored factory Veloster Turbo could make. Sadly, this isn’t a production engine, but a custom turbo setup.

This latest show car marks the third time Hyundai and ARK Performance have teamed up for SEMA, with a Genesis Coupe on display last year and a Tiburon before that.

GALLERY: ARK Performance Hyundai Veloster

Discuss this story at Veloster.org and read AutoGuode’s 2012 Hyundai Veloster review here

See after the jump for a full list of the car’s planned modifications:

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While Hyundai CEO John Krafcik didn’t give us full pricing on the upcoming Hyundai Veloster, a tweet by Hyundai’s head honcho did reveal that the highly anticipated sports coupe will start at $17,300 for a 6-speed manual version, while the Dual-Clutch Transmission will cost $18,550, while delivering 40 mpg on the highway.

In addition to a $760 freight charge, options include a “Style” package (featuring 18-inch wheels, a chrome grill, fog lights, a panoramic sunroof, leatherette and an 8-speaker audio system) and a “Tech” package (which must be ordered with the “Style” package and features different 18-inch wheels, navigation, automatic headlights, keyless start, backup sensors and a backup camera).

The Honda CR-Z starts at $19,345 and is capable of 39 mpg on the open road. The CR-Z hasn’t fared well in the marketplace, and Hyundai’s massive marketing machine, cheaper base price and superior fuel economy bragging rights may spell doom for Honda’s own sports coupe.

We’ll be driving the Veloster in early September, so check back for more at AutoGuide.com

Hit the jump to see the official press release

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