Hyundai Tweets that Veloster will Start at $17,300, Undercuts CR-Z by More than $2,000

It’s been a while since we last heard about the new Hyundai Veloster, but today, the South Korean automaker posted a tweet on its official Twitter page announcing the base price and stating that it will release full U.S. pricing by the end of this week.

“Stay tuned for full Veloster pricing info later this week. But here’s the best part: The well-equipped Veloster starts at just $17,300,” Hyundai wrote on Twitter.

When Hyundai revealed the 2+1 door hatchback model back in January at the Detroit auto show, the company stated that the Veloster’s closest rivals are the Honda CR-Z, Scion tC, Mini hatch and Mini Clubman, all of which are priced significantly higher.

For example, the CR-Z Hybrid starts at $19,345, the Scion tC from $19,305, the Mini Cooper hatch from $20,100 and the Mini Clubman Cooper from $21,800.

In the States, the new Veloster will be offered with a 1.6-liter engine producing an output of 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and maximum torque of 123 lb.-ft. at 4,850 rpm, paired to a standard six-speed manual gearbox or an all-new, six-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

We’re still waiting for Hyundai to release final performance specs and fuel economy numbers, but the South Korean automaker claims the Veloster will be good for up to 40mpg on the highway.

PHOTO GALLERY