Asymmetrical front-drive sports car to return; rear-drive exclusive to Genesis now

The Hyundai Veloster is an unusual car design – and the second-generation sports car expected to lob in 2018 is all but certain to retain its quirky character.

Peter Schreyer, the design chief at Hyundai, Kia and Genesis who penned vehicles for Volkswagen and Audi in the past – including the Audi TT – said the Veloster is “very unique” and delivers something that “nobody else has”.

“So that’s why I think why not do it [again]?” said Schreyer, responding to questions about the car’s unorthodox design, which features two doors on one side, and just one door on the other.

“The Veloster is quite successful actually,” he added.

Hyundai went out on a limb with an asymmetrical door array and chunky liftback silhouette for the Veloster. But instead of dying a slow death the peculiar design has helped it to become more successful than the Korean brand could have imagined.

“In the beginning of the Veloster, it was something at first glance that was a bit unusual or peculiar, but in the end it gives the car a lot of character and I’ve spoken to quite a few people who own the car.

“They are very happy with it. They think its super cool and practical.”

The car’s successor is expected to be just unusual in its design and practical execution, albeit with more modern flourishes.

“I mean something similar along those lines you can imagine could be coming,” added Shreyer, all but confirming a continuation of the cars’ quirky layout for the next-generation.

A high-performance mid-engined Veloster variant was spotted undergoing testing recently which led to speculation about a rear-drive Veloster, but Schreyer says this won’t happen.

“Rear-drive adds a lot of cost. You need a platform for that. You cannot just drop the doors and make it rear-wheel drive. It is not possible,” he said.

The next Veloster is expected to make a quantum leap in terms of chassis dynamics, however, with revised suspension systems and possibly even the addition of an N-badge high-performance model.

But Hyundai’s self-described disruptive luxury brand, Genesis, spells the end for rear-drive Hyundai cars. When talk turned to the Kia Stinger GT, and the potential for a rear-drive answer from Hyundai, Schreyer was unequivocal.

“At the moment it’s not planned. In the group now we have Genesis so [rear-wheel drive cars] can be completely done by Genesis.”