Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, said Thursday that it will this week begin selling the new Veloster coupe that boasts more functions appealing to the tastes of younger consumers.

The new Veloster, which goes on sale Friday, is equipped with an "engine sound equalizer" that allows the driver to tune the volume and tone of the "virtual" engine sound.

The car also provides an improved driving experience with motor driven power steering and better safety by adopting a rollover sensor that automatically activates airbags in case the car is inverted.

Hyundai Motor said that its own seven-speed double clutch transmission helps improve fuel efficiency by 4 percent from its previous model to 12.3 km per liter.

Its main D-Spec model is priced at 23.7 million won ($21,883), 900,000 won more than the previous model. Hyundai Motor said it tried to minimize the price hike that was inevitable to improve its design and driving functions. (Yonhap)