2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3 Roll Top Concept Preview: L.A. Auto Show

The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3 Roll Top Concept demonstrates just how serious the Korean automaker is about leveraging the Veloster’s compact hatchback platform to reach out to younger buyers who have been so far difficult to engage in the entry-level segment.  The vehicles retractable roof isn’t just ‘fun’ – it’s also practical, as its two-position slide feature allows for the hatchback’s cargo area to be used in much the same way as that of an ultra-small pickup.  Bicycles, pieces of furniture, and kayaks can all be accomodated by the C3, thanks in part to its drop-down tailgate.

What’s New for the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3 Roll Top Concept:

• Retractable cloth roof
• New wheel and paint colors
• Revised cargo floor
• Rear tailgate

New 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3: Styling and Design

The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3 is almost entirely a styling exercise.  Taking a page out of the same book as the FIAT 500 C, the Veloster Turbo C3 features a roof made of re-used truck tarps that can be either peeled back from the front of the car or rolled up from the rear.  This isn’t just a design conceit – it serves a practical purpose in that it allows the driver to enjoy the sun’s rays or expand the cargo compartment vertically.  A drop-down tailgate is also present and accounted for, making it that much easier to load oversized gear.

The cargo compartment floor – including the rear seatbacks – in the Veloster Turbo C3 is made out of recycled skateboard decks, making attractive use of their colorful designs.  The vehicle also features three different colors on its wheels, with light pastels inspired by ‘fixed-gear bike culture,’ according to Hyundai.

New 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3: What’s Under the Hood

There are no surprises between the front fenders of the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3, as it shares its running gear with the production version of the car.  This means a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that has been tuned to provide 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.  A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the Turbo in the showroom.  No performance modifications have ben made to the C3 concept, although Hyundai does boast about its ‘aggressive’ intake manifold sound.

New 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3 Roll Top Concept: Features and Technology

The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3 Roll Top Concept doesn’t introduce any new technologies that aren’t already available on the production model.  The front of the car wears headlights that come with eight individual LED accents, and a front diffuser and side skirts aid in the automobile’s aerodynamics.  Other than that, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3 Roll Top Concept rolls with much of the same feature set that can be found in the Veloster Turbo that is currently on sale.

New 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3 Roll Top Concept: What Autobytel Thinks

Will the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo C3 Roll Top Concept ever make it from concept to reality?  Although it seems unlikely, we’re not ruling it out as a possibility.  Hyundai is aggresively pushing its family of small cars, and the introduction of a limited edition Veloster at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nevada showed that the company is willing to take a couple of risks along the way.  The Roll Top Concept would be a very niche product, but it would also give an already unusual three-door hatchback an even wider individualistic streak.