The Hyundai Veloster Turbo Performance Upgrades. You can say a lot about the Hyundai Veloster, but you can’t deny that it has personality. The Veloster’s distinctive shooting brake design, torquey 1.6L T-GDi Gamma engine, and inexpensive price make it a viable sportscar alternative for individuals who don’t want to give up any reliability or practicality.
The first generation Hyundai Veloster was released to tremendous acclaim in regions throughout the world in 2011. The Veloster was Hyundai’s replacement for the Tiburon, which launched Hyundai’s push into sports coupes. When the Veloster Turbo was introduced in 2012, it rapidly became the most popular model in the lineup. A 1.6L inline-4 producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque is nothing to scoff at.
While the Veloster Turbo delivers solid performance out of the box, it can be improved even further with the right modifications. As with most turbocharged vehicles, the 1.6L gamma turbo engine has a lot of power potential that can be unlocked with a few simple and inexpensive mods. This tutorial will go through some of the most frequent bolt-on upgrades for the first-generation Hyundai Veloster Turbo.
1) Hyundai Veloster Turbo: Remove Intercooler Resonator
We’ll start with one of the simplest and least expensive upgrades you can make to your Veloster turbo. When it comes to intercooler design, the Veloster Turbo has a slightly unusual problem. It has a short extruded segment of pipe that works as a sound resonator within the OEM intercooler piping. While the factory resonator does an excellent job of reducing turbo noise, it is also a source of power loss.
The stock intercooler resonator on the Veloster Turbo is not a uniform tube. As a result, airflow into the turbo is disrupted. It’s also a popular source of heat soak, which means it absorbs a lot of heat from the engine’s surrounding components. These factors, when combined, reduce overall horsepower from the 1.6L gamma engine.
The solution is to replace the limiting and non-uniform stock intercooler resonator with a uniform one. There are numerous tuning firms that offer efficient intercooler resonator deletion kits for the Hyundai Veloster Turbo. Most intercooler resonator delete kits include a 5″ length of piping with rolled ends as a replacement. They are also often made of a heat-dissipating material, such as aluminum. Airflow is reduced by making the piping homogeneous rather than ridged. Their aluminum construction also eliminates heat soak. A Veloster Turbo intercooler resonator delete kit, when combined, eliminates critical faults with the stock design.
One of the best parts of removing your Veloster’s stock intercooler resonator is that it is inexpensive and simple to install. In the end, the kit is merely a 5″ piece of aluminum that bolts up with OEM clips.
Performance Advantages of Removing the Hyundai Veloster Turbo Intercooler Resonator
- Boosted airflow to the turbo
- Boosted turbo sound
- 6-13 horsepower boost
- Increased power delivery, particularly in the mid-to-upper RPM range
- Heat soak at a lower temperature
TurboSocks Resonator Delete Kit is the best Veloster Turbo Intercooler Resonator Delete Kit.
To be honest, there aren’t many distinctions between Veloster resonator deletion kits. For the most part, they all follow the same formula. That being said, the Turbosocks resonator deletion kit is the most popular alternative on the market and performs flawlessly.
Its overall structure is comprised of a 5″ long aluminum pipe that is 2″ in diameter and 2mm thick. It uses stock hardware to replace the OEM resonator, including the factory upper and lower hose clamps. The hose clamps are actually the most challenging aspect of the installation. In general, if you have a few pairs of pliers and a flathead screwdriver on hand, you’ll be OK. And that’s all you really need.
The intercooler resonator on the Veloster Turbo is positioned on the bottom of the engine, towards the front of the vehicle. All you need to do is jack it up using the front differential jacking point and secure it using jack stands. Then it’s a simple plug-and-play situation. When all is said and done, you’ll have spent $30 on a modification that you can install in 20 minutes and feel right away.
2) Hyundai Veloster Turbo Downpipe Upgrade
The factory downpipe of the Veloster is the most restrictive component of the exhaust system. Because the downpipe houses the catalytic converter, it generates a significant amount of exhaust backpressure. Because the downpipe bolts directly to the turbo, backpressure has a negative impact on turbo spool. It operates as a negative force against the turbine wheel, stopping it from fast spooling and building boost.
Because of the way the OEM turbo pipework is built, backpressure is extremely frequent in the Veloster. The stock Veloster Turbo design features an angled elbow exiting the turbo. Most Veloster Turbo performance downpipe alternatives reduce the sharp angle and smooth up the pipes to maximize airflow.
In terms of performance downpipes for the Veloster Turbo, there are two broad options: catless and high-flow downpipes. Each has a distinct edge. Catless downpipes eliminate the restricted downpipe-mounted catalytic converter, which dramatically reduces backpressure while also making your car louder. A high-flow Hyundai Veloster Turbo downpipe will keep the factory catalytic converter, but it will be more efficient.
Each style of Veloster Turbo downpipe has a trade-off. While a catless downpipe will increase overall horsepower and allow your Veloster’s exhaust system to flow better, it is unlikely that you will pass emissions with one. In the case of a high-flow Veloster downpipe, the opposite is true. While a high-flow downpipe will allow emissions to pass, it will sacrifice performance over a catless downpipe.
A freer-flowing downpipe will yield 10-15whp and 15-20wtq, which is the second-best gain of any mod after a tune. A downpipe with a high-flow cat is unlikely to enhance horsepower significantly, but it will provide a healthy boost of 7-10whp. One of the most significant advantages is turbo spool.
Advantages of Hyundai Veloster Downpipe Upgrade
- Gains of 10-15whp and 15-20wtq (approximately 5 less for high-flow)
- The value of low-end torque is significant.
- Improved throttle response and faster turbo spool
- Significant reduction in exhaust backpressure (reduced stress on the turbo)
- Exhaust note is slightly louder.
Hyundai Veloster Turbo Downpipe Recommendation: 845 Motorsports 3″ Veloster Turbo Downpipe
Since 2013, 845 Motorsports has been manufacturing and supplying performance parts to the Hyundai community. They’ve built a reputation for supplying high-quality parts at low prices, and their Veloster Turbo downpipes are no exception.
The 845 Motorsports downpipe is constructed completely of mandrel bent 304 stainless steel, giving it exceptional rigidity and strength. You can order one of 845’s Veloster Turbo downpipes with either a high-flow catalytic converter or without one. Both provide significant performance improvements. The 845 Veloster Turbo downpipe removes the constraints that the original turbo elbow imposes, allowing air to exit the turbo in a more direct path.
One of the most inconvenient features of installing a downpipe is the accompanying check engine light. That is true in the majority of cases. The 845 downpipe, on the other hand, has an angled O2 chamber that allows you to use a regular Veloster O2 sensor. That means you won’t get a CEL even if you don’t have a cat!
3) Hyundai Veloster Turbo: Intake of Cold Air
The effect of an enhanced 1.6T Veloster cold air intake might vary significantly depending on the sort of intake you use and the other mods you use. If you already have some engine upgrades and a tune, you should experience a more significant power increase from an upgraded 1.6L Turbo intake. Adding a track raises boost levels.
More boost and power necessitate more air. The factory intake is fine on a basic Veloster Turbo, but as boost increases, it becomes restrictive. Upgrading the intake will allow for increased airflow, increasing the efficiency of the turbo and reducing stress on it while also giving significant power boosts.
Short ram intakes and closed intakes are among the cold air intake options for the 1.6L Veloster turbo. Which type of intake is better is a regular topic of discussion in Veloster forums. A cold air intake or a short ram intake are the two most common options. The key distinctions between the two are the shape of the piping and the location of the air filter. Cold air intakes move the air filter further from the engine to cool the air and enhance density. Short ram intakes focus the least restrictive channel for air into the engine.
Both have advantages, but small ram intakes are widely regarded as the best solution for the 1.6L gamma engine. When mated with an aftermarket intake, Veloster Turbos have an exceptionally prominent induction noise. If you don’t like that, you should probably stick with the stock intake.
Benefits of 1.6L Turbo Veloster Intake Upgrade:
- improved airflow
- Airflow within the intake is less turbulent.
- Power and torque ratings have been somewhat enhanced (5-10hp and 5-10lb-ft).
- Induction noise that is really loud
SXTH Element 2G Carbon Fiber Intake is recommended for Hyundai 1.6L Turbo Cold Air Intake.
Short ram intakes are the way to go on the 1.6L Gamma engine, according to the Turbo Veloster forum. SXTH Element offers one of the greatest intakes for the Veloster Turbo on the market. For good reason, their 2G Carbon Intake is a Veloster community favorite. It’s composed completely of 3K twill carbon fiber and is meant to funnel air to the turbo as efficiently as possible.
The SXTH Element Intake has the largest tube available, measuring 3.75 inches in diameter. To maximize turbocharger performance, the tube should be as large as feasible to reduce pressure losses in the intake system. The intake has exact OEM fitment, with the filter located just in front of the battery. They also offer a closed enclosure for the filter as an alternative. In general, open filters perform better, but closed boxes keep the filter cleaner.
4) Hyundai Veloster: Upgraded Front Mount Intercooler
The front mount intercooler improvement is one of the most popular and much discussed mods in the Veloster Turbo community. The basic Veloster Turbo intercooler configuration is adequate for low boost loads, but after other engine and performance upgrades are added, an improved intercooler is recommended. The OEM 1.6L Turbo intercooler configuration isn’t as efficient as it may be, especially in terms of heat dissipation.
The factory Veloster Turbo intercooler is located on the right side of the radiator, behind the front grill. It is positioned vertically rather than horizontally and is partly hidden by the front bumper. The factory 1.6T Gamma intercooler has a relatively small core size, which means it doesn’t dissipate heat well and heat soaks. Overall, its positioning and size are unsuitable for high boost.
A front mount intercooler relocation is the most frequent intercooler improvement for the Hyundai Veloster Turbo. When you reach 240whp, the factory intercooler significantly reduces flow. That is right around the time when a front mount is required. A front mount intercooler relocates the intercooler in your Veloster to the front of the vehicle, beneath the radiator. This improves airflow to the turbo because it has direct access to fresh air and a larger surface area.
Advantages of the Veloster 1.6L Turbo Front Mount Intercooler
- increased surface area of the intercooler core
- Improves heat dissipation properties
- improved overall airflow
- Significant boost in power and torque (up to 30whp and 20lb-ft of torque)
Tork Motorsports Veloster Turbo Front Mount Intercooler is a recommended 1.6L T-GDi front mount intercooler.
Tork Motorsports is a household name in the Hyundai Veloster community, and they offer the best front mount intercooler kit for Veloster Turbos. Unlike other Veloster front mount methods, the Tork FMIC kit is installed using a unique bumper support. This prevents the lower intercooler pipe from coming into contact with the ground and gives the intercooler a more centered appearance.
Most other Veloster Turbo FMIC kits do not completely utilize all of the available surface area since the front bumper cover obscures a few rows of the core without a bumper support. Because the Tork Motorsports Veloster Turbo FMIC has a bumper support that raises it slightly, this isn’t an issue. The Tork Motorsport FMIC dramatically boosts flow and cooling by exposing 95% of the core directly to incoming air.
Tork Motorsports says that their Veloster Turbo FMIC upgrade may boost power by up to 30whp and torque by up to 20 lb-ft. That is extremely difficult to beat in terms of horsepower for money. A front mount intercooler will also ensure that all of your other engine modifications work correctly by providing adequate cooling.
5) Hyundai Veloster Turbo: Customization
Hands down, the best performance modification for a Veloster Turbo is a tune. Tunes typically cost approximately $500 and can offer close to 100whp and torque when combined with other improvements. As a result, a tune alone can easily push you into the 250whp region, providing the best price per hp of any mod on our list.
A tune will increase the amount of boost the turbos are running, resulting in power improvements. Because the stock turbos and internals can handle about 325whp, they can be cranked up quite a bit, allowing for these significant power gains. A tune is also a good first mod because it helps optimize power gains from other mods. A decent tune will optimize engine factors like as fuelling, timing, and so on to maximize the power from other mods.
A tune can be run on a Turbo Veloster without any further modifications. However, if you intend to run an aggressive map, we recommend adding a few more upgrades from this list, such as an intake and intercooler, to help support the turbo and its extra boost.
Advantages of 1.6L Gamma Turbo Tuning
- up to approx. Power increases of 80whp and 100wtq
- Simple to set up and user-friendly
- Several maps for various power levels and objectives
- Gains from future mods are increased.
Related : The Upgrades to the Kia Stinger 3.3T Intake
JB4 Performance Tuner is a recommended Veloster Turbo Tuner.
The Burger Motorsports JB4 is a piggyback tuner, which means it spoofs the ECU rather than fully changing it, like a flash tune would. This means you can uninstall it without leaving a trace (for warranty purposes, for example). Burger is one of the top tuning brands, and we use their JB4 items on many of our BMWs. Tuners are also available for the 1.6T.
The JB4 connects to the ECU and provides a variety of maps and tunes. You can flip between maps while driving, making it extremely user-friendly. It is E85 compliant and offers Bluetooth connectivity for data logging and monitoring.
Summary of the Best Hyundai Veloster Turbo Performance Mods
The Hyundai Veloster Turbo is a competent beast right out of the box, and it becomes even more so with a few well-chosen tweaks. While there are undoubtedly more modifications that can result in higher power figures from the 1.6L T-GDi Gamma engine, the mods listed above are a good place to start.
Increased airflow within the exhaust system and the intercooler can liberate a significant amount of horsepower from a Veloster Turbo. Because the Veloster’s factory downpipe is so poor, a downpipe that promotes better flow can make a significant difference. The same is true for the intercooler. A front-mounted intercooler with a resonator removed improves cooling. This results in increased power and turbo performance overall. Cold air intakes are also included in this category. Increased turbo performance will result from more air flowing into the turbo in a less turbulent manner. Especially with music.
Tuning is the key to gaining extra power from any turbocharged vehicle. That also applies to the Hyundai Veloster Turbo. A tune can get you very near to the coveted 300 horsepower mark with stock turbos. This is especially true when other performance-enhancing bolt-on modifications are added. The combination of all of the above parts will certainly transform your Veloster Turbo into a different beast.
