As reported by the car connection. Hyundai is getting ready with the Infiniti G and 350z in its sights.

Hyundai is seriously considering building a convertible version of its popular Tiburon coupe, according to John Krafcik, Hyundai’s North American vice president of product development and strategic planning. In an interview with The Car Connection Krafcik said a next-generation Tiburon coupe is also under development, with its sights set further upmarket. “Imagine an Infiniti G; this is where it will go,” Krafcik said. He also indicated the automaker is working on a “Rear-Wheel-Drive Premium Car” positioned above the Azera. While the automaker has not decided if it will sell the sedan in the United States, Krafcik said it could compete with the Nissan Maxima or even low-end Lexus models.



http://forums.autoweek.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/31-16382-352779-10825/Hyundia%20Coupe%20001.jpg

yeah I like.

looks nice!

This picture is almost a year old...

Good for them. I've always liked the Tiburon, but never considered it because of the FWD.


-Matt

Good for them. I've always liked the Tiburon, but never considered it because of the FWD.


-Matt

+1

Turk

+2....

Doesn't look nearly as radical as the concept car version... and unfortuntaly I fully expect the real production version to look even more plain than the sketch. I like how they are thinking, but for some reason, I think the execution of the concept won't be as good as what we all hope.

Also, it's supposed to be based on the same platform that the Caliber and next-gen Evo is built on, so it might also be AWD.

http://www.auto4u.cz/new2/images/wallpapers/hcd81024x768.jpg
http://www.motortrend.com/future/spied_vehicles/112_fvf2007_tiburon_z.jpg

Doesn't look nearly as radical as the concept car version
Do they ever? ;)

sketch looks like an aston. and the concept isnt a tiburon, its the hcd-8 which is a completely different car, perhaps the tiburons replacement though.

Do they ever? ;)

True dat... but still. The concept was quite original and definitly out there - but still based on reality. The sketch - which could very well be totaly wrong - looks like they didn't just tone-down the concept car, but instead went a different direction in the styling. Looks like they didn't even try to give it that Coke-bottle curve of the concept, and copied that big-mouth grill look (that everyone else has) a little too much. Same with the headlights - gone are the unique slant-eyes and instead regular old headlights. Not a bad looking car at all... but looks like it lost almost all of its uniqueness that the concept had.

:shrug:

Wow, I really like those lines.

I do get tired of the "this car doesn't look like the concept" rant. Due to manufacturing needs, and crash standards, cars must be somewhat normalized. It's different to build a one-off million dollar car to wow people at a show, than it is to convince a few hundred thousand people to let go of thier hard earned(or ill-gotten) money.

that old concept car looks so much like the scion tC

this concept is pretty old as well, but it just looks so odd i dont know how much would actually go into production. They have been using LEDs for headlights on concepts for a while, but practicality wise, would/should they go into production?

Doesn't look nearly as radical as the concept car version... and unfortuntaly I fully expect the real production version to look even more plain than the sketch. I like how they are thinking, but for some reason, I think the execution of the concept won't be as good as what we all hope.

Also, it's supposed to be based on the same platform that the Caliber and next-gen Evo is built on, so it might also be AWD.

it's going to be rear drive, so there's no way it'll be based on the transversely mounted platform of the caliber and evo. if there's awd it will be more like the g35x/bmw x-drive awd system.

Hyundai has impressed just about everyone I've known, myself included. If I wasn't sold on AWD, I would have bought an Elantra GT 5 door instead of the Impreza TS.

I hope they come through with the new Tiburon and some sporty hybrid (so I can afford to buy it :D )

it's going to be rear drive, so there's no way it'll be based on the transversely mounted platform of the caliber and evo. if there's awd it will be more like the g35x/bmw x-drive awd system.

There has been more than one report that the EVO/Caliber/Tiburon will all share a platform, both online and in car mags.

:shrug:

well, we can go even further and say that Hyundai is releasing a rwd sedan from which a coupe will follow, but it may not be called Tiburon at all.

That sketch looks a lot like the new IS250/3** to me, which is not a bad thing at all.

I doubt a $25k+ RWD Hyundai will be called the Tiburon. Maybe they've given up on the ~$15-20k sport compact market?

I've always though the current gen tiburon is a good looking car. It suffers from terminal understeer though. Horrid weight balance. They need to move the whole powertrain to the rear. Hell, keep it transverse.

Good for them. I've always liked the Tiburon, but never considered it because of the FWD.


-Matt
My GF owned one (03 GT) and wouldn't consider it for other reasons.

I doubt a $25k+ RWD Hyundai will be called the Tiburon. Maybe they've given up on the ~$15-20k sport compact market?

I've always though the current gen tiburon is a good looking car. It suffers from terminal understeer though. Horrid weight balance. They need to move the whole powertrain to the rear. Hell, keep it transverse.
I've never really had any understeer issues with it. I guess it all depends on the driver.;) I have pulled some shocking autox times in my GF's old one (let's just say my friend in his SM Evo was quite pissed). The nice thing about the GTv6 is the amount of torque available down low. The car has NO top end at all, but off the line it moves...till about 4000rpm.

The new one is not going to be called a Tiburon anymore. This car is going to be replacing it.

My GF owned one (03 GT) and wouldn't consider it for other reasons.

Any particular reasons you care you mention?

I would consider the Tiburon to be the last of the old-generation Hyundias. Seem sthat all the ones that were introduced after it seem to be much better buit and such.

I'm surprised that they're ditching the market. But I guess it is hard to sell a loaded V6 for $20.5k when you can buy an SRT4 for the same price. At least it has ten times the looks. It also suffers from bad insurance rates and horrid resale.

I guess they should do better to target the RX8 and 350Z, but undercut on price by $4-8k. I'd consider one myself as long as they don't slap a damn small displacement NA V6 in it that dooms the aftermarket.

I used to have one. It was a nice car, never gave me troubles. Seemed to be built well, chassis was stiff, good configuration and suspension in general, great 6 speed gearbox besides the overly soft clutch (shares with SE-R and one notch down from the 6sp gearbox that goes in the EVO). I'd still like to go back some day and transplant the V6 midship as a project car. The aftermarket still kinda sucks. No good engine management solutions to start, and then the V6 is too expensive to build up and has weak pistons and too high CR to boost much at all.

My GF owned one (03 GT) and wouldn't consider it for other reasons.

I'm overwhelmed by your details.

Update:


Report: Hyundai Mulls Building a Hot Rod

Date posted: 07-05-2006

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Hyundai brass is saying now might be the time to build a performance car to create an aura of excitement for the brand, according to the Detroit Free Press.

"The time is right for us to do a halo car," said John F. Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America vice president for product development and strategic planning, in an interview at the launch of the 2007 Santa Fe SUV. "This will validate the engineering proficiency of Hyundai. It's a sure sign we've arrived."

The automaker likely would price the car below $25,000, Krafcik said. Hyundai could come up with a front-wheel-drive model based on its Tiburon coupe or a more powerful rear-wheel-drive model. The company told the Free Press it will make a decision within six months.

Krafcik also said Hyundai is developing another SUV that will be larger than the new Santa Fe. The unnamed SUV will be about the size of a Honda Pilot. The Korean automaker will also build a pickup at some point, he said. No word on when the new SUV or the pickup will hit the market, though.

What this means to you: Hyundai longs to make the pages of the buff books.