All new 2012 Hyundai-Veloster

But there is one vehicle class where Hyundai has been conspicuously absent and that's the small sporty/performance-car segment exemplified by the Mini Cooper, Scion tC, and Volkswagen GTI.

True, demand for such cars has been very low in recent years, which is one reason why Hyundai gave up on its entry, the Tiburon hatchback coupe, after the 2008 campaign. But some analysts see the segment making a strong comeback in coming years, if only because small and affordable sporty cars have such strong appeal to the young first-time buyers that most every automaker wants to attract and hold onto. Some companies have already gotten the message, witness the recently released Kia Forte Koup from Hyundai's sister brand, Honda's 2011 CR-Z hybrid coupe, a redesigned 2011 tC, and the upcoming Toyota "FT86" and joint-venture sibling Subaru "0864."

All new 2012 Hyundai-Veloster