Looks like Hyundai's upcoming replacement for the Tiburon has finally made it to the California desert for hot weather testing. The first spy photos of this new Hyundai coupe showed up months ago, but since then we haven't seen much on this sharp looking two-door. We do know that it will use the BH platform that underpins the Genesis luxury sedan , so the switch to rear wheel drive is certain. Although the Genesis sedan will have an optional V8, we've been told that the top engine on the coupe will be the sedan's base 3.8-liter V6...
Earlier spy photos also showed what looked like a turbocharged four-cylinder under development, so even in base trim this could be a formidable sport coupe. Look for an official unveil within the next six months with U.S. sales starting late next year at the earliest.
tp660 says:
05:54 PM, 07/31/07
is this really a redesign or is it just another update because this car doesn't look all that different from the current car.
carlisimo says:
07:06 PM, 07/31/07
Total redesign - new platform, new drivetrain arrangement, new everything. Except looks, which imo is the only thing the previous Tiburon did better than its competition.
roar02ram says:
08:24 PM, 07/31/07
I wonder how many months it will take them to re-do it & make it ugly...just like they did with the past two...
That said, it looks sharp. Now how much & who will buy it?
estreka says:
11:02 PM, 07/31/07
If I didn't already have my sports car, I would seriously consider it. I've always loved the look of the Tib, but was disappointed by the driveline. I imagine the coupe will get the sedan's V8 after a couple years. Imagine, a Tiburon GT-V8.
sabastian says:
06:28 AM, 08/ 1/07
From the side it reminds me of a Ferrari 612, but that could just be because the extra body cladding makes it look as though it has huge haunches. Sadly the front looks like it's been hit with the ugly stick a time or two...
ateixeira says:
10:06 AM, 08/ 1/07
Still a lot of camo, but I think it looks very promising. It sort of looks like the Altima coupe a bit, but imagine an Altima price tage with G37-like RWD and big engine fun.
hondacura4 says:
04:38 PM, 08/ 1/07
Honda are you paying attention?
dragonzsoul says:
03:34 AM, 08/ 7/07
i hope not.. i'd be disappointed if they came out with such a bad looking car. and honda doesn't really need another RWD sports car.. although i wouldn't mind if the Si was RWD =)
xl562bx says:
07:18 AM, 08/ 7/07
NO V8 WILL BE FINE. THE CAR SIGNIFICANTLY RESEMBLES THE CURRENT TIBURON BUT WITH MUCH NEEDED UPDATES. WITH THE SHIFT TO RWD, THE COMPANY IS INDEED HAS ITS GAME PLAN READY TO TAKE ON THE LIKES OF THE IN CLASS COMPETITION. I'M POSITIVE THIS COUPE WILL MAKE PEOPLE REALLY TAKE NOTICE ON HYUNDAI AS A BRAND OF CHOICE RATHER THAN WARRANTY. THE WHEELS LOOKS TO BE ABOUT 18'S OR BIGGER, I LIKE THEM MOST. THE TOP ENGINE WILL GIVE IT MORE THAN ENOUGH GUSTO TO GET TO SPEED AND FROM RECENT PRODUCT RELEASES, THE INTERIOR SHOULD RING IN SUPERB. LETS CROSS OUR FINGERS ON ITS DRIVING DYNAMICS AND PERFORMANCE AND ADD IN A FLAVORFUL CABIN AND THIS FORMULA SHOULD APPEAL TO THE 2 DOOR DRIVERS OUT THERE. ITS TIME TO WAKE UP AUTO MAKERS.
altimadude00 says:
02:20 PM, 08/ 7/07
Look out V-6 Mustang sales.
desiathate says:
05:11 PM, 08/ 7/07
well i think as far as design goes its good hit, but only other way it will its compition is well a new nice v6 thats well not laggi and good with tourque and HP cause the new engines they have right now are only good for well they work fine but not good. and only other thing it needs or hyundai needs is a nav system
hondacura4 says:
10:09 AM, 08/ 8/07
Dragonsoul, If you go to the Japanese Honda website you will see that they are NOT taking anymore orders for the S2000 and we shouldnt see the next version for a couple of years (2009-ish).
Honda seriously needs a RWD fixed roof coupe as everyone doesnt want a convertible. I know plenty of folks who would have bought an S2000 but inturn bought 350Zs because they didnt want a convertible.
The Si is a great FWD platform but there are more than a few Honda enthusiasts who are begging for a RWD sports coupe in the $30-40K range.
estreka says:
10:34 AM, 08/ 8/07
Hondacura - I would imagine if Honda offered the S in coupe form it could sell for $28K sans the power top, reinforced chassis, et al.
Edit: I'd like to see a 2+2
coolb944 says:
12:41 PM, 08/13/07
This coupe looks like it could be a real hit for Hyundai, as well as a significant transition point in how people think about the company.
For those commenting on the looks, stop! All you can really see is the silhouette of the car and its wheels. The shape looks great. But commenting on the front or rear styling is pretty rediculous. They're covered in camo covers, which I can garauntee are cut to show different shapes than what the real car has on the body. The body shape, wheel design and sizes, and the exhaust shapes look spot on, so I can't imagine the rest of the styling won't be good.
And yes, Honda is definitely sleeping on this one, although Toyota pretty much is too. The tC is definitely no good replacement for the Celica, and the MR2 just got old.
Success of the Mustang should show automakers what they're doing wrong. Hyundai obviously has picked up on it, and judging by the fact that they have prototypes on the road already, this new coupe may start to swallow up some of the shrinking coupe market the V6 Mustang has already filled before the Camaro or Challenger even hit the road.
With that market in particular, you have to hit hard, fast, and often with updates or redesigns, otherwise you'll get left in the dust.