http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/10/s...ais-rwd-coupe/

Wow, ok, I thought Hyundai was on a tear before, but they aren't messing around now, Nissan and BMW are going to have problem on their hands (especially Nissan) if Hyundai gets this right, and given their track record, they will.

Looks like a G37 GT competitor, I knew they were going to play the Datsun 240Z card at some point and come in with fun RWD at a substantial discount. Can you imagine a good looking RWD V8 Hyundai coupe for under $30K?

 

Not to shabby. Interior screen, gauge pods, seat design looks like a formula copied from the 8 but on well..it's a copy cat world. Wonder if the oil indicator is functional.

 

Thats nice, but the pic of the engine doesn't look like a V8. Looks like a turbo 4 banger.

 

It looks like a Turbo I6 to me

 

the only question i have is how will it handle?

 

As long as it is RWD it will probably kick some ***

 

that manifold definitely looks sized for a I4

 

The design has to seriously be outstanding for most people to even consider buying a Hyundai. I think that is more important than performance.

Look at the Saturn Sky.

 

They really need to redesign their badging. Not only would it help to eliminate the stigma of their cheap, boring early model cars, but it would just look aesthetically better. It's unsymmetrical on every axis and that is just weird. I know they can't just make the "H" stand straight up cause then it would look like a Honda, but they need to do something.

 

+1

 

Hmm...quick car with cheap quality and priced low...could sell well if done right. Might be a new pocket rocket for the younger people. I'm gunna keep my eye on this car.

 

Problems with corporate parent aside, Hyundai motor vehicles is a on a roll. The latest generation of cars and CUVs are class competitive regardless of the cheaper price.

 

More importantly, it puts pressure on Honda/Toyota/Nissan and Mazda to come up with a competitive next gen product. Nothing like having someone come in an undercut you on price with a competitive product by $3-$5K to wake you up a bit.
Hyundai has been nipping at Toyota for the last 5 years, and this will be a real shot over the bow.

More importantly, if Hyundai si going to spend the coin, it means they think there is a market for RWD coupes going forward. This is incredibly positive for us, as it improves the chances of a new RX7.

 

i think a v8 is a mistake, stick with an inline 4 (turbo or N/A) or a v6, fuel ecomony has been a good seller for hyundia up to this point so they should stick with that idea in mind even for a rwd coupe.

If they pull this off correctly and it looks good in addition to prices in the low 20's the while outsell everything.

 

i thought mazda was already coming out with a 4th gen RX7 instead of a 2nd gen RX8. maybe im wrong, i dont know ill look it up.

 

I agree--a V6 (turbo or not) or a turbo-4. The output of turbo 4s are incredible nowadays.

I wonder what they will do with the Tiburon coupe. It is one of the older cars remaining in their lineup.

 

I've been saying it for years, i think the market place is EMPTY for cheap hard top roof coupe rwd. Not everyone wants a convertible. 2 seats(or even 2+2), coupe, 2 doors, rwd engine will sell if it looks good. Hell the v6 mustang sells a ton with no import competition to compare it to.

 

i agree, there going to have a market of there own, the car will be in its own genere...its going to be very unique and should prove to be successful

 

Turbo 4-Banger, count the plugs and see the turbo...

 

Looks like a turbo 4 in there.

 

that looks really nice.

 

The reason why you don't see this is because it's hard to make a nice looking car with enough output so that it can afford to lose all the power it would by being rear wheel drive. The RX-8 is really one of the closest to that and it cost $30k+. If you take a cheaper car like an Eclipse or a Tiburon and make it rear wheel drive it's not going to be $20k.

The Mustang, the only other competitor in that class looks like crap and has a live rear wheel axle because they can't afford to add niceties and keep the costs down.

I'd love to see someone try, but I just don't think the market is as big as you think it is. Most people buying low-cost coupes are in it for the looks. FWD doesn't make any difference to those people.

 

A good test will be to see how the new Altima and Accord coupes sell.

 

Exactly, and they sell a **** load of those FWD sporty coupes. The Nissan 240SX was supposed to be the RWD answer to this question and it didn't do as well as anticipated compared to the lower-priced FWD competition (I know I am simplifying the 240's history in the US here, but it works).

This also goes to show how impressive it is that Mazda brought a inexpensive sporty RWD roadster on the market 17+ years ago and did so well.

 

Damn, it's defiantly another step for Hyundai. It's kinda late tho, they need something NEW!
RWD Sports car with 300bhp is a good idea, been done, wonder what the price would be.