http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/md_hiunday_tiburon_fr_watermark.jpg
You ready for a V8-powered, RWD coupe from Hyundai?
Posted Apr 30th 2007 3:56PM by John Neff
While we were digitally thumbing through the latest virtual issue of Winding Road we were struck by a particularly well done article on the forthcoming Genesis sedan from Hyundai. The WR folk dug deep and unearthed a lot of info about the sedan, and what its new BH platform means for the Korean automaker. For one, the BH platform will spawn four vehicles in total: the Gensis, a long-wheelbase Genesis Plus, a Genesis-esque Kia model, and (drum roll, please) a sporty rear-wheel-drive, V8-powered coupe that may look like the rendering above. Now, no one knows what this coupe will look like or even how far along in development it is, but kudos go to the WR-commissioned artist who created this image, because it looks great.
Assuming a heavy dose of parts sharing will go on between the BH platform mates, we should expect this RWD coupe to be offered with either a V6 or the new "Tau" V8 that will power the Genesis. The "Tau" is said to be capable of "well over" 300 horsepower and we already know the company's 3.8L V6 is a gem, so Hyundai's forthcoming coupe has plenty of powerplant potential. Reportedly, however, none of the BH cars will be offered with a true manual transmission. Instead, we should expect some sort of manually controlled automatics.
Considering that a Genesis equipped with a V6 is rumored to carry a price tag below $30,000, we're curious to know which other RWD coupes you think will be the biggest competition for this car. Would its combination of a low price tag and powerful engine make it attractive to the Mustang crowd, or is Hyundai staring down the grille of Infiniti's new G37? Time will tell, and we can't wait.windingroad via autoblog
94lex83457
05-01-07, 03:22 PM
Looks good. I'd rock it.
funny to see that Hyundai will have a V8 (a company that was the automotive joke 10 years ago) but Honda/Acura doesn't.
MR_F1
05-01-07, 03:28 PM
and while we still wait for the appearance of a supra / IS coupe
tmf2004
05-01-07, 03:31 PM
Yea Hyundai sure has come along way over the years.. :p
JessePS
05-01-07, 03:39 PM
congrats to them :)
i remember back in the early 90's my mother driving a ****ty Hyundai, can't believe how 17 years can make a huge difference.
tofu_house
05-01-07, 04:25 PM
It looks very Aston Martin-esque. :thumbup:
That comment might cause people to draw the conclusion that Hyundai COMPLETELY copied the design from Aston Martin :rolleyes:
But I give a lot of props to Hyundai. Copy or not, this car looks great! And if it's going to be powered from a RWD V8, it'll be a huge hit.
mmarshall
05-01-07, 06:45 PM
congrats to them :)
i remember back in the early 90's my mother driving a ****ty Hyundai, can't believe how 17 years can make a huge difference.
Well, didn't 17 years make a huge difference in YOUR life? :uh:
You went from your mom's womb to behind the wheel of a car.
mmarshall
05-01-07, 06:47 PM
Though it is not a bad-looking car by any means, basically, IMO, it looks like just a more-or-less stretched version of the 1997 Tiburon.
tuan92129
05-01-07, 06:59 PM
I like it....depending on the price:)
doesn't look that bad either.
PhilipMSPT
05-01-07, 07:02 PM
It looks very Aston Martin-esque. :thumbup:
That comment might cause people to draw the conclusion that Hyundai COMPLETELY copied the design from Aston Martin :rolleyes:
But I give a lot of props to Hyundai. Copy or not, this car looks great! And if it's going to be powered from a RWD V8, it'll be a huge hit.
Please don't disrespect Aston Martin like that... :D
That concept looks more like a Mazda RX-8, not a Vantage...
/edit. Nevermind, this appears to be the sedan, not the coupe....nevertheless it still looks quite a bit different if its the same family...
thetopdog
05-01-07, 08:05 PM
Did you guys not read the text? That design was made by a Winding Road artist, that wasn't created by Hyundai
picus
05-01-07, 08:10 PM
Looks like an Audi to me.
Lubs
05-01-07, 08:42 PM
The back-end from this shot reminds me of the Celica lines. The front end makes me think new Skyline GTR.
It looks more Aston than RX-8 to me, although it doesn't look terribly similar to either.
meowCat
05-01-07, 09:15 PM
The side looks more like Aston Martin. I am quite impressed with the Hyundai.... I never liked Hyundai till now.... I'd like to see the back of it.. mmmmm
Och
05-01-07, 09:51 PM
I can't believe noone sees the IS in the side and rear. And the front is basically Saturn Sky headlights with Aston grille.
Koma
05-01-07, 10:01 PM
Looks kinda like the new Jag design. Go Hyundai.
1QWKGS4
05-01-07, 10:42 PM
Hmm the 1st few seconds after seeing it, I say: its not too bad but after the intial "shock" has settle in. Its kinda fugly to me - The grille with the car looks like HELLO KITTY Crying or some type of Japanese Anime animal yelling and/or some type of Pokemon creature.. :egads: LOL Nasty! :sad:
lighthalo
05-01-07, 10:52 PM
thats hot!
now.. if you were to fill the grille area with a FMIC... talk about intimidation (sp?)
tofu_house
05-02-07, 12:54 AM
Please don't disrespect Aston Martin like that... :D
That concept looks more like a Mazda RX-8, not a Vantage...
That Hyundai has a long LONG way to go before it can "look" like an Aston... :rolleyes:
Oh come on! Besides the headlights, it looks NOTHING like the RX-8.
It shares a more similar body style with the Aston than it does with the RX-8. AND BY NO MEANS! am I saying this car is anything like the Aston other than a couple simple styling ques that I see. The large grill for one, looks something like the grill from the DB9.
Even the body looks very similar. I know that Aston and Hyundai are on COMPLETELY different levels. All I was saying was that this car had some feeling of Aston to it. That's all ;)
tofu_house
05-02-07, 12:59 AM
Hmm the 1st few seconds after seeing it, I say: its not too bad but after the intial "shock" has settle in. Its kinda fugly to me - The grille with the car looks like HELLO KITTY Crying or some type of Japanese Anime animal yelling and/or some type of Pokemon creature.. :egads: LOL Nasty! :sad:
Are you trying to just bash Hyundai? because IMO, it looks nothing like a hello Kitty crying or any pokemon. I don't even know how you came to that conclusion? :uh:
I think it looks aggressive. And with a RWD V8, it just might be.
tofu_house
05-02-07, 12:59 AM
I can't believe noone sees the IS in the side and rear. And the front is basically Saturn Sky headlights with Aston grille.
Oh come on! Besides the headlights, it looks NOTHING like the RX-8.
Here's what I see is very similar between the Hyundai and the RX-8:
Headlights
Fog light casing
Front bumper lip design
Elevated side skirts
Pronounced bulging front wheel /shoulders fenders (both are raised above the hood)
Angle of front windshield (the Aston is much much more raked)
5-spoke wheels
Therefore, the Hyundai and the RX-8 are like the Olsen twins. The Aston is Rebecca Rojmin... :D
1QWKGS4
05-02-07, 05:23 PM
Are you trying to just bash Hyundai? because IMO, it looks nothing like a hello Kitty crying or any pokemon. I don't even know how you came to that conclusion? :uh:
I think it looks aggressive. And with a RWD V8, it just might be.
Nah, I'm not bashing anything - its just my opinion - like you have yours - we all have opinions.. :p
1SICKLEX
05-03-07, 11:48 AM
Hyundai is coming and IMO, Acura, Infiniti, Lincoln, Saab, Volvo need to watch out...
spwolf
05-04-07, 03:34 AM
Hyundai is coming and IMO, Acura, Infiniti, Lincoln, Saab, Volvo need to watch out...
Yeah... Especially since their big RWD LS fighter with V8 will be cheaper than their Avalon fighter with V6
:woot:
mmarshall
05-04-07, 07:51 AM
Yeah... Especially since their big RWD LS fighter with V8 will be cheaper than their Avalon fighter with V6
Let's wait until the price "rumors" are over and ACTUAL pricing is announced before we say that.
Hyundai, like in the past, is still value-oriented, but the vast increase in quality since the late 90's has not come without a price...literally. Hyundai prices are up noticeably with their newest products, though not as much as with their quality.....that still makes them relatively good values. The company still has lower-than-average labor costs in its plants, but that new quality has come partly from more hours spent in enginering, higher-quality materials, and quality control on the assembly lines....all three cost money.
MSMLexIS
05-04-07, 07:53 AM
Looks good see a little Celica and Cougar in the design but its just an artist rendering.
Mr Johnson
05-04-07, 08:50 AM
Let's wait until the price "rumors" are over and ACTUAL pricing is announced before we say that.
Hyundai, like in the past, is still value-oriented, but the vast increase in quality since the late 90's has not come without a price...literally. Hyundai prices are up noticeably with their newest products, though not as much as with their quality.....that still makes them relatively good values. The company still has lower-than-average labor costs in its plants, but that new quality has come partly from more hours spent in enginering, higher-quality materials, and quality control on the assembly lines....all three cost money.
Yeah the exchange rate for the won is killing them too. Even they are commenting on the fact that whereas they used to have a 15% price advantage it is down to around 5% now.
Hyundai is coming and IMO, Acura, Infiniti, Lincoln, Saab, Volvo need to watch out...
Lincoln, Saab and Volvo are going down fast. Not sure they need anyone else's help to continue dying.
Acura and Infiniti are interesting because they both seem to suffer from the parent company not investing enough in their brands. Not having a full line-up with the Q45 going MIA, the Q56 being an "ehhh" vehicle and lack of the GTR as their flagship is a problem. Heck, Nissan's problems may well bring down Infiniti even if their niche continues to do well. Acura continues with weak execution. Where is the NSX successor already? V8 flagship? Could definitely be tough times if Hyundai gets new product out quickly and revs it to customers demands.