"Yes, we are developing rear-wheel drive for the next sports car," admitted Hyundai Executive Senior Vice- President.

"....it is likely that the company will opt for its new Lambda-type engine series, which includes 230-horsepower 3.3-liter and 265-horsepower 3.8-liter V6s, which debuted in the new Sonata and Azera/Grandeur respectively."

"Having received tremendous positive response from the all-wheel drive HCD-8 sports tourer concept car that the South Korean automaker showed off at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, it's thought that the new Tiburon will be similarly shaped, carrying the same bold grille, up-turned headlamps and sporty three-door liftback design."

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Full story. (http://automobile.auto123.com/en/info/autonews/index,view.spy?artid=41494)

If they bring this car here, and it looks anywhere near the concept, and has the 3.8L engine, and handles right, it will be a serious contender.

The bottom part of the front bumper, right underneath the grille, looks like it was taken from the RX-8. Not a bad looking car/concept.

it looks good but the headpights are a lill too much "up turned" for my taste. but none the less it looks good

WoW! who would of thought Hyundai could design something that looks good :) . I hope if they do make it they don't screw it up like the new eclispe. The new eclispe looks horrible compared to the concept IMO.

Looks like they put an RX-8 and 350Z in a blender, and then pour out the Hyundai frankenstein.

Looks ugly to me. A want to be Aston Martin, but much worse looking.

If they price it as high as the RX-8 or Z, it will flop. But if they can make a simple, fun to drive baragin sports car like the original 240Z or first gen RX-7, it might do pretty well.

Tone down the pokemon front and it'd look pretty good. 265 horses for the suv could be tuned for 280 for this car. Make it handle well, price it $24-28k, and they might have a winner on their hands.

I looks alright. Definitely you can see elements of the Z and 8 mixed in there.

The headlights and front grill make it look like it is snarling. Not bad at all for a Hyundai.

I kinda like it. It doesn't look like something that would make it into production, but nice none the less. Though, that rear seems a little high to me, I dunno

the rear looks like a Porche

I was kinda thinking that too, like an updated 944 with a pinch of 911 in there

I'm with Fanman here, I see an Aston. Blend of current DB9 and older, more rounded designs. The current Tiburon knocks off a Ferrari, so they like to aim high. Low price will be key, and you can expect one from Hyundai.

Still wondering why Hyundai like the side FAT... like the old Tiburon, or the Merc CLS, thats one heck of a thick side with unproportionally small windows.
Anyway hope they finally learn from the old Tiburon, small engine + big tires = crap.

Good job Hyundai! I think it looks pretty good and I welcome ALL new sports cars!

If they can give it 280HP and keep it under 3500lbs and price it in the 22-26K range they probably have a winner.

More sports cars...MORE....MORE...

If they price it as high as the RX-8 or Z, it will flop. But if they can make a simple, fun to drive baragin sports car like the original 240Z or first gen RX-7, it might do pretty well.
Yeah...people won't buy a 30k Hyundai sports car....their reputation is still for making cheap cars.

It does look pretty good though, I like that third picture, but hte grill looks a little too big and pig-snoutish

Its kind of wierd.. asian people find it a bad omen to have a word/name sound like another word that means something bad.. THe way alot of Americans pronounce Hyundai is with "die" as the last syllable. Very bad luck to asian people. YOu'd think they'd have done more research.

To give an example, the number 4 is bad in chinese and japanese (possibly korean) because the word sounds like the word for death.

Yeah...people won't buy a 30k Hyundai sports car....their reputation is still for making cheap cars.


I wouldn't be so sure, if it outperforms the competition it will do well. Also Hyundai is quickly surpassing many automakers in terms of reliability and quality. Every Japanese automaker had similar things said about them 20+ years ago.

The days of Hyundais being looked at as cheap poorly built cars are over and it's time for them to make a name for themselves in other segments of the market.

In less than 10 years, Hyundai and Kia will be pretty much in the position of the good Japanese carmakers of today. Maybe even earlier than that.
This Hyundai sports car looks good - as it was already mentioned, if they price it right with decent performance, they'll have a winner.

I'd hit it. :)

I'm all for it. Competition is a good thing. Anything to keep Mazda and Nissan on there toes helps us out. Hopefully Toyota will get the message and bring back a reasonably cheap Supra.

I bet Hyundai will build it just to improve their brand recognition, even at a loss. Hell, what do you think the original datsun 240z was?

Yea, the car looks good, but i know another car thats already a real winner. It's made by mazda, has suicide doors, and has a rotary engine. Can anyone guess what it is...? :D . (Damn i love my Mazda).

BTW. there is no way its going to look the same as the concept if it is going to go into production.

Add vertical doors, and hell even borrow a Ferrari V10 and it's still a freaking Hyundai. Nice car though. They need to rename the rest of their car line (the cool cars) like Toyota/Scion did.

Yeah...people won't buy a 30k Hyundai sports car....their reputation is still for making cheap cars.

Don't underestimate Hyundai. They are the fastest-growing automaker in the US right now, growing 400% in 6 years. In less than half-a-decade they have been able to effectively move themselves from the $10K market where Kia now lies to a market competing with Mazda in pricing and haven't even had to give out as many incentives as the competitors to do so. Every automaker said they'd fail in their endeavour to move up but they not only succeeded they succeeded better than everyone else did just staying still; particularly the Domestics. And, all the while, they've been able to make HUGE leaps in reliability -- blowing away the Germans and Americans to now be ranked on-par (even ahead in some cases) with Honda and Toyota.

It's still a Hyundai, and is perceived by others to be a "cheap car". Getting a Hyundai over 30K is like getting a Volkswagen Phaeton. Why would you pay 80k for a VW???

It's still a Hyundai, and is perceived by others to be a "cheap car". Getting a Hyundai over 30K is like getting a Volkswagen Phaeton. Why would you pay 80k for a VW???

Well this car probably won't be $30K. Hyundai usually undercuts the competitors by a good $3K at least, but that has been narrowing as of late as they've increased their image. So I'd expect $25K base and $30K loaded if it's on-par with the 350Z and RX-8. It would certainly have to cost a lot more than the Tiburon does now, which goes for $20K loaded.

It's not a foreign market to Hyundai. Not anymore. 5 years ago it would have been. They sell the XG350 and Santa Fe for $27K now and the new Sonata (great looking car inside and out) is expected to be a bit more than the current one, and much closer to the Mazda6 in pricing but with more features (like Xenon and Nav) and more power.

It's still a Hyundai, and is perceived by others to be a "cheap car". Getting a Hyundai over 30K is like getting a Volkswagen Phaeton. Why would you pay 80k for a VW???
That's true, but I think it's changing.

Hyundai has been doing well. Quality is off and on. Some of their cars apparently still suffer from reliability issues, but other cars of theirs are pretty solid. They're definitely moving up in the automotive world. Before Hyundai used to be "buy because you can't afford anything else". Now Hyundai is "you have to consider them because they're pretty much as good and cheaper."

In a few years they might shed their "cheap" stigma completely. This car will be fine if there's performance, the looks stay edgy like it is now, and the price is reasonable.

I like the way it looks. I'm still wary about the Hyundai name but I'm starting to lose the distrust. I'd buy Hyundai over Kia for sure though.

I like it. I did see a picture of this awhile back and my first impression was a cross between a Dodge Magnum and a Crossfire (side view) If it turns out looking like that with the performence they claim, I might definitely consider if the price is right. As of now I am planning for the Mazdaspeed 8 to be my next car but I do worry that the price may be a little steep (near $40k?)

ass is too big, and won't end up looking like that anyway

I don't see the resemblance to the 350z here. To me it's somewhat RX-8ish with hints of a g35 coupe on the front and rear.

I really like it, especially in that color. It looks fierce from the front. And the hatch looks crazy.

I also see a 350 and 8 mixed in that car.

Can you say "BLINDSPOT"

"LIBNSDTPO" "BNILDPTOS" "TSPBLNIOD"


Can you say "BLINDSPOT"

no apparently i can't :(

I'm not feeling it.

I'd buy it

The rear of that car looks really horrible.