Lexman. Posted June 30, 2022 Posted June 30, 2022 Quote Click here to read full Along with midsize sedans, it seems that quirky, high-performance, front-wheel-drive hot hatchbacks are a dying breed. Today, Hyundai announced that its performance version of the Veloster, the Veloster N, is being discontinued, while other N models (the Elantra N, and Kona N) live on. Which is a shame because the latest Hyundai Veloster N was dynamically excellent, and closing the gap between it and the standard bearer of FWD performance cars, the Honda Civic Type R. When the Veloster N first arrived in the U.S. in 2019, the N gave the Veloster the engine and suspension we felt it deserved all along. That's what made it our 2019 Car of the Year finalist. Its timing, however, wasn't great, as the Honda Civic Type R had just came to our shores and redefined the meaning of front-wheel-drive performance. Improvements for 2021 made the Veloster N even better, with the Performance Package becoming standard and an eight-speed DCT now optional. In our PVOTY review, we wrote, "If this is to be the final Veloster, it's a wonderful note to go out on, even if it could use just one more iteration." Unfortunately, it looks like we won't get that chance. Thanks to the introduction of the Elantra N and Kona N for 2022, the Veloster N has been killed off; the non-N Veloster died last year. That means the Veloster—a vehicle Hyundai introduced as a quirky three-door hatchback in 2011—is truly gone. In addition to the Veloster N, Hyundai has also discontinued the Accent (an entry-level car for Hyundai since 1995) and the Ioniq PHEV and hybrid. While the Ioniq line will live on as an EV subbrand for Hyundai, the Accent (much like the Veloster) is gone for good. It's being replaced with the Venue crossover, which Hyundai says will serve as the entry-level model for the Hyundai brand. It also adds, "Sedans remain an important part of the lineup and Hyundai continues to offer the Elantra and Sonata." Even so, with the Veloster and Accent now gone and rumors swirling about the Sonata disappearing, we can't help but wonder how long those models will last. For now, we mourn the loss of the Veloster N and the quirky hatchback it was based on. The Hyundai Veloster is dead. Long live the Hyundai Veloster.
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