IF HYUNDAI needed a car to kick-start its ‘N’ performance brand, it would only have to look to its sexy little Veloster Street Turbo Special Edition hatchback-coupe.

It is a long name for a little car so just think of it as a Veloster SR Turbo + with some serious cosmetic kit attached.

This includes a set of RAYS alloy wheels, Dazzling Blue Mica paint with matching Sports Blue interior trim, a body kit in Phantom Black and some “Street” tinsel on mats and badges.

Hyundai plans to put just 200 examples of its little four-door rocket on sale here, all running the 150kW, 265Nm, 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a choice of either six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions.

The car also benefits from some clever tinkering by Hyundai Australia’s chassis development team, which carries out suspension tuning for Australian-spec cars.

The Street Turbo gets a thinner front stabiliser bar (down from 24mm to 22mm) for more independent front-wheel movement, which, with the Australian-spec shock absorbers and firmer springs, works extremely well with the RAYS wheels.

Those subtle changes have increased the car’s cornering aggression by sharpening turn-in for more drive on exit, helping to increase point-to-point rapidity on twisting roads.

The Veloster Street Turbo Limited Edition is priced at $34,990 with six-speed manual transmission and $37,490 fitted with the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

These prices do not include the on-road costs.