2012 Hyundai Veloster stickers at $18,060

Hyundai has set the base price of the 2012 Veloster with six-speed manual transmission at $18,060, including destination.

The three-door Veloster will also be available with six-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission for $19,310.

Hyundai says it means for the front-wheel-drive car to appeal to the same group of buyers as the Mini Cooper, the Volkswagen Beetle and the Scion tC. (For the record, the Veloster is about 400 pounds lighter than the tC, according to Hyundai). It offers 28 city/ 40 highway/ 32 combined mpg with the six-speed manual transmission and 29/38/32 mpg with the dual-clutch transmission.

Standard features in the 2012 Veloster include rear-seat access via a conventionally-hinged third door, Hyundai Blue Link telematics, Pandora Internet radio, a seven-inch touch-screen display and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.

Veloster sales begin in September.

By Michelle Koueiter