Speaking to press last year, Hyundai America CEO John Krafcik confirmed that the Korean carmaker will introduce a new coupe in 2011 as a successor to the Tiburon. New spy photos this week of a Hyundai prototype show that development is well underway.

While camouflaged, the blacked-out A pillars and hump-backed roofline of the Veloster concept are in plain evidence, and confirm that Hyundai is following through on its promise to bring the Veloster/Tiburon to showrooms.

A 2+2 coupe, the Veloster will be based on the new Accent’s underpinnings and, unlike the Korean automaker’s Genesis Coupe, will be front-wheel-drive only. Both LHD and RHD production is planned, meaning an Australian release is likely.

A 105kW 1.6 litre direct-injection petrol engine will power the car, and fuel economy is estimated to be in the region of 5.8 l/100km.

Further specifics are not yet known, but with a debut confirmed for 2011 we should hear more about Hyundai’s upcoming sporty coupe in the coming year.

source: TheMotorReport.com.au