REMEMBER the Hyundai Coupe? Affordable style which generated a loyal following especially, as David Walliams would say, with the lay-dees.

The final version was launched Rome; it turned heads in the world's most style-conscious capital.

Famously in the UK Hyundai left it de-badged around town centres and canvassed opinion on what make of car it could be. Some people even thought Ferrari. They weren't Italian.

In its final manifestation, to the petticoats and curls was added a  2.7-litre V6 kick up the bushel. But really the car was most popular as a smaller engined excercise of style over substance.

The fun ended in 2008 and since then Hyundai has been lacking a hip-hop number in a mainly country and western repertoire

That's over now with the Veloster - not a superhero comic character but a chunky monkey sports coupe that puts distinctive style back, albeit without the seven second 0-60 performance of the final coupe.

But then Hyundai limits engine capacity on this stunning looking car to 137bhp and 1.6-litres, which in turn benefits naughty-gas numbers with emissions at 137g/km and consumption offering a best average of around 48mpg. Not bad for fun motoring.

That's fun without losing sight of the demands of family ownership. Veloster, it has a distinctive Flash Gordon ring to it,  has an interesting  third door in addition to its hatch, a la MINI Clubman. And proper rear seats not a two plus serious surgery combination. There's a big boot, too. 440-litres or a couple of sensible suitcases to you.

Squat and square the Veloster looks different, different to just about everything except the VW Scirocco, the 1.4 version of which it could well have in its sights. Eye catching alloys will be  an attraction as will distinctive paint options.

There are two trim levels, standard and Sport across a wholly petrol direct-injection range which include a Blue Drive stop-start version.

Sport adds an extra inch to the size 17 alloys, heated seats, a sunroof, cruise control, keyless entry and push-button ignition to Bluetooth, reversing sensors, the usual connectivity and entertainment, LED running lights, touch screen media centre and air conditioning.

Inside the sports seats are supportive and instrumentation is inviting and well laid out. It's a good drive in any language.

If there's a problem it is trim quality. One of the attractions of the darkly mysterious Coupe interior was that it felt upmarket against the rest of the Hyundai line-up. The Veloster's hard plastics are left behind by the unquestionable quality of the latest finish in Hyundai's new i30 hatch.

Oh that the fun and verve and this quality could have been wedded.

Out on the road, if we look at the entry level GDi manual costing all but £18,000, the 9.8 seconds to 62mph may not chill any spines but delivered  atop a well-put together chassis there's a lot of life to be enjoyed.

It's grippy and even if a few bumps are found, nothing to loosen you fixtures.

The four-cylinder engine is an eye opener, keen and responsive allied to a six-speed manual gearbox. DCT versions get a paddleshift system - great fun in the country and agile around town.

Veloster, that really is a great name, will shape up as one of the year's more interesting cars.

Hot, hot, hot fans will cry wet, wet, wet but there could be a much faster turbo version around the corner to shut them up.

Meanwhile, this is a busy time for Hyundai with eight models arriving in 12 months. Veloster ups the tempo for this growing band of new products.