THE naturally-aspirated Hyundai Veloster range has been a sales hit since it landed in showrooms in February, consistently topping sales in the sports vehicle segment.

But one suspects this success with buyers is thanks to the quirky styling and sharp pricing rather than raw pace, with the atmo 1.6-litre engine barely registering as warm, let alone hot.

Enter the new SR Turbo. By strapping a turbocharger onto the same diminutive engine and tweaking the suspension tuning, Hyundai has transformed its oddball coupe/hatch into a different beast altogether – one that thoroughly deserves to wear the ‘sports car’ tag.