ARK, Hyundai team up to make the Veloster even more mad (SEMA 2011)
The first custom car out of the 2011 SEMA Show to catch our attention is this hopped-up Hyundai Veloster customized by ARK Performance.
- North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
The 2011 SEMA Show--the hottest, largest aftermarket automotive show in the world--is but one short month away and with its approach comes a deluge of hot custom cars and aftermarket accessories that will be vying for our attention from the show floor. The first to catch our attention is this hopped-up Hyundai Veloster customized by ARK Performance.
ARK starts with the Veloster's 1.6-liter GDI engine and sporty, but economical, suspension setup but eventually upgrades darn near everything with a jaw-dropping list of performance parts. Power upgrades start with an ARK turbocharger and front-mount intercooler and terminate with a dual exhaust system (sans catalytic converter). Suspension upgrades include a full ARK coil-over suspension and an assortment of strut and sway bars. Keeping things safe are a six-pot big brake kit and a full roll cage.
It wouldn't be a show car without an upgraded interior, so ARK called in JPM Coachworks to swath the Veloster's seats, shift boot, dashboard, headliners, doors, and visors in Alcantara, and Image Dynamics to upgrade the stock stereo with about 1,000 watts (max) of amplification for the new component speakers and subs. Making sure the audio system's power drain doesn't interfere with the driving performance is an array of SUN automotive upgrades that help isolate and boost the efficiency of the vehicle's electronic ignition system.
As if it weren't obvious from the sketches, ARK is also giving the Veloster's already oddball asymmetrical chassis the wide-body kit treatment with its CFX replacement front lip, side skirts, rear bumper, front and rear fenders, and grille, all of which are slathered in the requisite show car paint. There are also custom headlamps and taillights by OneEighty and custom mudflaps by Rally Armor to complete the rally car look. Finally, the whole car rides on Yokohama Advan RZ gunmetal wheels shod in Nitto tires.
We'll have more details about this hot hatchback from Hyundai, as well as the other custom Veloster and Genesis models that the automaker has promised, as our coverage of the 2011 SEMA Show comes to a head in Las Vegas this November.