Hyundai: Tiburon news
08-15-2003, 09:43 AM
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Hyundai: Tiburon news
SLK Style For Half The Price
Not content with copying the style of a Ferrari, Hyundai has now borrowed the folding hard-top from a Mercedes SLK! The firm is to reveal this head-turning convertible version of its Coupé at the Frankfurt Motor Show early next month, and it's set to go on sale within the next two years - at half the price of its Mercedes rival.
Although the model, which will be Hyundai's first-ever convertible, is officially still dubbed a concept, it is already signed off for production and set to be launched in mid-2004.
As with the successful tin-top version, most of the Coupé Cabrios are expected to find homes in the US, but Britain is the biggest market for convertibles in Europe and it's expected to be extremely popular here as well. A soft-top concept of the previous gen- eration Coupé was shown at a Korean motor show in 1997, but was never intended for production. The company promised it would create a convertible version of the new car instead, and has kept its word.
Hyundai had intended to use a conventional fabric roof, but the increasing number of rivals using retractable hard- tops forced a rethink. Although the styling is the work of Hyundai's California Design Studio, the engineering of the complex roof mechanism was entrusted to German expert Karmann, which created the SLK's revolutionary roof and has just begun production of Renault's new Mégane CC.
The mechanism works in a similar way to those of the Mercedes and Renault, both of which use a hinge above the rear window and a complex mechanism which opens the boot backwards to swallow the folded top. Unlike the Renault version, though, the Hyundai's conversion has robbed the Coupé of its rear seats. There is however a surprisingly large boot, even with the roof stowed. Extra strengthening in the sills and bulkheads has made the whole body structure stiff enough to cope with the loss of roof, while reinforced pillars in the windscreen support the car in the event of a roll-over. The Frankfurt show car uses a range-topping 2.7-litre V6 with standard six-speed manual or five-speed auto transmission.
Engine choices in the eventual production models will closely resemble those of the Coupé. The entry model will feature a 103bhp 1.6 taken from the Elantra, while mid-rangers will use the standard Coupé's 136bhp 2.0-litre unit with manual or auto transmission.
The drop-top's launch will coincide with a minor mid-life facelift for the entire Coupé range, which includes changes to the interior trim and redesigned lights. A new, direct-injection petrol engine, called TCI, is also due.
As with the rest of Hyundai's line-up, the Coupé Cabrio's main attraction will be the price. The 1.6-litre variant is expected to cost around £16,000, which is less than the 2.0-litre version of the smaller Peugeot 206 CC and half the cost of a Mercedes SLK 320. A top-level 2.7-litre V6 Coupé Cabrio is likely to be around £20,000.
08-15-2003, 10:02 AM
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The Third Ball
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Smart on their part. An inexpensive hard top vert will sell like hotcakes im thinking. specially since the new tib is a fairly attractive car to begin with.
08-15-2003, 11:22 AM
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Originally posted by Zapata
:sqnteek: hyundai?
:sqnteek: hyundai?
Good for Hyundai, I think this would be a good move for them and the segment. If Hyundai starts pulling sales away from other verts in this price range because of their hardtop then how long before we see a hardtop Solara, Celica, or even Accord Hardtop vert? Hardtop verts should not be exclusive to the lux brands.
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08-15-2003, 01:34 PM
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Thats my only problem with the tib right now, not fast enough.
Id probably hit a hard top vert tib thought, sexy
Id probably hit a hard top vert tib thought, sexy
08-15-2003, 08:27 PM
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Originally posted by Zapata
:sqnteek: hyundai?
:sqnteek: hyundai?
I would consider trading in the Z-28 for that if it had about 260 horsepower.
08-15-2003, 09:00 PM
#13
What, me drive fast?
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The Tib is a sexy car IMO. A hard top convert is excellent. I really like what Hyundai has been turning out lately. The Tib is great and I think the Sonata is nice (even if there are 500 of them at every stop light!). I even like the Santa Fe.
Hyundia is becoming a real force IMO...now if they gave this car more hp.....
Hyundia is becoming a real force IMO...now if they gave this car more hp.....
08-16-2003, 05:09 AM
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well inside the auto industry, they are calling hyundai the korean honda...they are building cars people want too and are being clever w/it, like honda use to be like in the 80s
08-17-2003, 07:28 PM
#19
Originally posted by Zapata
it's still a hyundai. I'm sorry..... don't mean to hate, the hard top vert is a cool move no doubt.
it's still a hyundai. I'm sorry..... don't mean to hate, the hard top vert is a cool move no doubt.
08-17-2003, 07:42 PM
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They've already got one tight-ass warranty...10 years is no fukin joke...
I'll never understood why we only get 3 year warranties on cars that take 5 years to payoff...On the other hand, Hyundai's take 3 years to payoff & have the longer warranty...don't make any sense.
I'll never understood why we only get 3 year warranties on cars that take 5 years to payoff...On the other hand, Hyundai's take 3 years to payoff & have the longer warranty...don't make any sense.
08-17-2003, 07:51 PM
#21
Cost Drivers!!!!
Originally posted by zeroday
so now matter how well built or innovative their cars are, you wouldn't consider one based soley on their past? seems kind of unfair. personally i'd love to see hyundai succeed like honda did...more companies raise the bar, more competition, better prices and value for us consumers.
so now matter how well built or innovative their cars are, you wouldn't consider one based soley on their past? seems kind of unfair. personally i'd love to see hyundai succeed like honda did...more companies raise the bar, more competition, better prices and value for us consumers.
oh don't get me wrong, they are getting better......but i wouldn't purchase one if had the choice between that and other cars.
let all car makers succeed....it's better for us
08-18-2003, 12:01 PM
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I think this is a great move by Hyundai. The only part that might screw them is the loss of the rear seat in the conversion, but we'll see what happens. I hate soft top convertibles and don't know why they continue to be made. Of course they're cheaper to make, but they look like shit and can be a hassle. Hopefully more hard top convertibles will actually make it into production in the near future; unlike Mercedes cancelling its plans for the hard top on its CLK convertibles, that car would've been awesome. I'd also love to see hard tops on the 3-series and on Corvettes. The soft top is the only reason I'd never consider the convertible model of either of those two cars.
Because Honda would go bankrupt replacing their automatic transmissions.
Originally posted by chris3240929
...I'll never understood why we only get 3 year warranties on cars that take 5 years to payoff...
...I'll never understood why we only get 3 year warranties on cars that take 5 years to payoff...
08-18-2003, 12:36 PM
#23
The sizzle in the Steak
Originally posted by Rod
Because Honda would go bankrupt replacing their automatic transmissions.
Because Honda would go bankrupt replacing their automatic transmissions.
08-18-2003, 02:30 PM
#24
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i sat in a tib a little while back for the first time and i was really surprised by the quality, i would say its near the top in that respect, not a fan of those droopy style headlights though. nice commuter car.
08-28-2003, 05:05 PM
#27
Fahrvergnügen'd
Hyundai really, really needs to get up to 200hp in that car.
That trick hardtop and some more pep in the engine would put that car at the top of a lot of people's lists.
That trick hardtop and some more pep in the engine would put that car at the top of a lot of people's lists.
08-30-2003, 07:41 AM
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I have driven Hyundais since 1994, and yes, no doubt they are makig better cars. As someone said, they are the new japanese industry, building higher quality cars at less price and gving the incredible 10/100K powertrain warranty (5/60k bumpet to bumper).
With a low APR 5 year loan, you payoff a car even before the warranty is gone.
And believe me, with the cars i have driven before, i rarely had problems with them. Its just the bad idea people have from the past (80's?). Look at the chats... even Hyundai is building better cars than VW.
My 2 cents.
With a low APR 5 year loan, you payoff a car even before the warranty is gone.
And believe me, with the cars i have driven before, i rarely had problems with them. Its just the bad idea people have from the past (80's?). Look at the chats... even Hyundai is building better cars than VW.
My 2 cents.
07-04-2004, 04:37 PM
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the lights look too dark...or maybe it's just the pic. Those wheels look like cheap after market wheels. Either way, the changes are barely noticable but I prefer the current version
07-04-2004, 05:44 PM
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Holy fawking 
Watch out, SC430 and SLK320, this tibby is going places. That panorana glass roof is fucking AWEsome.
Koreans are doing some crazy shit in the automotive industry. They truly are the next Japs. Have you guys seen the other Hyundai concepts? Blew my socks off. I have a good feeling that Hyundai will not be looked down upon in another 5-10 years. Instead, they'll be up there with Toyota and Honda, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if they launched their own luxo div. like the Japs too.
Amazing stuff. I hope the auto industry keeps getting fueled by designs and ideas like this and performance like the new Vette and M5. If it keeps up, my kid will buy his first car, a hard top convertible with 600hp for 15 grand
Watch out, SC430 and SLK320, this tibby is going places. That panorana glass roof is fucking AWEsome.
Koreans are doing some crazy shit in the automotive industry. They truly are the next Japs. Have you guys seen the other Hyundai concepts? Blew my socks off. I have a good feeling that Hyundai will not be looked down upon in another 5-10 years. Instead, they'll be up there with Toyota and Honda, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if they launched their own luxo div. like the Japs too.
Amazing stuff. I hope the auto industry keeps getting fueled by designs and ideas like this and performance like the new Vette and M5. If it keeps up, my kid will buy his first car, a hard top convertible with 600hp for 15 grand
07-05-2004, 02:02 AM
#37
hail to the victors
i really think if hyundai makes it faster(0-60 6 sec, 14.5 sec RWD or AWD) with better handling, tiburon can be a player in the market. we all know hyundai is making better car every year, it is just a matter of time for them to make something fast!
here is some pics of tuscani.
here is some pics of tuscani.
