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Hyundai Veloster coupe isn't exactly a coupe

Hyundai's new sporty coupe actually has four doors, but not where you'd expect them to be.

Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
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Antuan Goodwin
Hyundai

Hyundai's second pre-Detroit sneak peek at the Veloster reveals an asymmetrical design.
Hyundai's second pre-Detroit sneak peek at the Veloster reveals an asymmetrical design. Hyundai

Last month, Hyundai gave us a sneak peek at its upcoming Veloster sport coupe, set to be revealed at the 2011 Detroit auto show. This week, we get a second look at the Veloster that reveals that the coupe isn't exactly a coupe after all. It has four doors, but not in the way that you might expect.

At first, the teaser shot (depicted above) appears to illustrate a five-door hatchback design. However, closer inspection reveals that the Veloster will feature an asymmetrical design with a single door on the driver's side and a pair of doors on the opposite side for passengers. The concept also features a large Honda CR-Z-like split-glass rear hatch that brings the total door count to four. Unorthodox and asymmetrical door configurations are rare in production vehicles. However, they are not totally unheard of in the automotive ecosphere (see the Mini Clubman), so it's very likely that the Veloster will reach showrooms in this configuration--perhaps as early as the end of this year.

As we learned last time, the Veloster should reach an expected 40 mpg, thanks to a direct-injected four-cylinder engine mated to a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. However, the rest of the details remain shrouded in darkness until the Veloster gets a full reveal next week at the 2011 Detroit auto show.