2007 RWD Hyundai Tiburon confirmed

[ConceptVBS]

"FUTURE Driven" Hyundai will abandoning front-wheel drive for its next Tiburon

Due to be unveiled towards the end of 2007 before a local debut the following year, the rear-wheel drive coupe will be a "serious sports car", according to a senior Hyundai Motor Company executive.

Although details are scant, it is believed the Tiburon replacement will be a three-door coupe featuring many of the styling cues as well as the general proportions displayed on the HCD-8 Concept Car, which made its global debut at the 2004 Detroit motor show and has since appeared in Melbourne.

The HCD-8, as it stands, is powered by a supercharged version of a current 2.7-litre DOHC V6 with a six-speed manual gearbox.

However, variations of Hyundai's new-generation 3.3 and 3.8-litre V6 engines are expected to debut in the 2+2 seater sports car, with the latter one likely to be the range-topper.

"Yes, we are developing rear-wheel drive for the next sports car," was the surprising response from Hyun Soon Lee, Executive Senior Vice President for Hyundai Motor Corporation.

This remark came after a suggestion from the gathered press at the opening of the 2005 Seoul motor show in South Korea that the company seek the passionate sports car route to increase its global youth appeal, rather than simply focus on quality.

Mr Lee's remark even caught out other Hyundai executives.

It is a surprising development for a model that started out as the very unsporty two-door derivation of the front-wheel drive Hyundai X2 Excel of 1990 called the S-Coupe.

That car's predecessor jumped up to the 1995 J2 Lantra platform to become the SX, FX and SFX Coupe until the current, sharper - but still front-wheel drive - Tiburon came into the fray in 2002.

A rear-wheel drive sports car is in line with Hyundai's desire to push its vehicles further upmarket.

Such a model willl probably share many components with a rear-wheel drive sedan in much the same way that Nissan's 350Z has spawned a range of mostly-US market Infinity products such as the G35.

There has been speculation for some time that Hyundai was considering releasing a luxury line of vehicles above the current, Sonata-derived Grandeur - which has just had a complete makeover and is the star of Hyundai's stand at Seoul.

Adding further credence to Hyundai's sports image push is its re-entry into the World Rally Championship from 2008.

The company says it will field an all-wheel drive "sports car" very loosely derived from the yet-to-be released Accent replacement, the front-wheel drive MC4 small car.

[nisco]

....oye....

[Mister_Sinister]

AWD sports car, RWD sports car....Hyundai comin out strong, what what!

Seriously, this doesn't surprise me that much. Especially considering how the 06 Sonata is gonna have a ridiculous number of luxury and safety items standard, plus the option of a 235 HP V6.

[KTiB]

nice nice. if u could post up some pics and stats that would be great

[KTiB]

o yea and the end of 2007? damn, wish it would come out in mid 2006, or lil bit later in 2006, that's wen i need a new car

[Gaiiden]

No quote on the source?? Where'd you read this?

Google rocks:









I hope they don't take too much from it personally. Looks too much like an Inifnity if you ask me. I'd rather it be lower, longer and meaner-looking than fat and sedan-ish almost. I do like the tail pipes tho - that's badass. the lights are cool too, I just don't like the overall body style

[Underground_Killah]

man
just .... man

that's a sexy car.... in 07... if i save up alot... i know what i'll be buying

[Red2.0Tib]

Too bad this car has been around for 2-3 years and I have pictures of it in person....it's a concept car, NOT a production car...quit spreading rumors in EVERY Hyundai forum on the planet, this is 2005, and Hyundai is making a KILLING selling reliable daily driven vehicles, I don't see them venturing into 350Z/RX-8 waters anytime soon(not that the RX-8's power is spectacular)..

[scottsee]

i say fuck it, put the 89-92 2.4l g4cs in the tib, fab it to the DSM awd drivetrain. turbo it, and call it good.

[Mister_Sinister]

SOURCE:
http://goauto.carsales.com.au/mellor...256FF20005DE69
SEX

As I said before, with this new announcement, Hyundai has essentially kicked in the teeth of all the haters/nay sayers.

[KTiB]

mmm if it looks anythin like the HCD-8 im not gonna even think about buyin it. i dont like the style of the HCD-8. but if u can keep on postin bout the 07 tib with like pics and 1/4,0-60,hp,tq and anythin else, that would be great

[BigTDawg]

i dont really like the style of the HCD-8 either

[nisco]

the 07 tib better not look like that........ and this isnt anything"new" per say.. hyundai mentioned this awhile ago.....

[Red2.0Tib]

Originally Posted by nisco

the 07 tib better not look like that........ and this isnt anything"new" per say.. hyundai mentioned this awhile ago.....

Dude come on, the '07 is gonna be an F-18 with wheels and street legal...

[BigTDawg]

Originally Posted by Red2.0Tib

Dude come on, the '07 is gonna be an F-18 with wheels and street legal...

dont F-18's have wheels now?