Hyundai has taken the wraps off its “enhanced Veloster N”, handing the vehicle a new eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission and some extra torque.
The Korean firm’s performance division says it developed the new “N DCT” to provide the “engaging experience of a manual transmission with the convenience of an automatic transmission”. This gearbox is expected to be rolled out to the i30 N hot hatch, too.
The DCT-equipped version of the Veloster N will go on sale in Korea at the end of April 2020 before being offered in certain other left-hand-drive markets, including North America. The Veloster N is, of course, off the table for right-hand-drive countries such as South Africa.
Fitted with the N DCT, Hyundai says the Veloster N will accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h in 5,6 seconds (that’s about half a second quicker than the manual version).
Power again comes from Hyundai’s turbocharged 2,0-litre, four-cylinder petrol unit, which offers an unchanged 205 kW. Peak twisting force, however, has been increased from 353 N.m to 377 N.m under something the company calls “N Grin Shift”, which allows for turbocharger overboost and “maximises transmission response” for 20 seconds.
The N DCT furthermore incorporates “N Track Sense Shift”, which Hyundai says “discerns when road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving” and activates automatically, selecting the “right gear and shift timing just like a professional race car driver” to provide optimal performance.
Hyundai says its DCT is equipped with electronic actuators that operate the double clutch. Unlike a dry dual-clutch transmission, the wet N DCT uses oil to “significantly improve lubrication and cooling performance, which is typical of higher torque applications”.
Inside, the company has updated the Veloster N’s infotainment system, displaying the latest operating system on a larger eight-inch screen. Hyundai says it has also updated features such as the rev-matching function and launch control, as well as introduced the option of lightweight sports seats.
