Napisal/-a INFINITI Če jun 16, 2005 5:04 pm
Hyundai razvija RWD športnika
Hyundai Confirms Development of Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car
by Justin Couture / American Auto Press
Is Korea's Number One Automaker Pushing Its Sports Car Upscale?
Having just opened an all-new factory in Alabama, launched three completely updated cars, in the Accent, Sonata, and Azera,
"Yes, we are developing rear-wheel drive for the next sports car," admitted Hyundai Executive Senior Vice- President, Hyun Soon Lee. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)
and previously juiced up its standard warranty, Hyundai's plans for world domination appear to be proceeding with utmost efficiency.
Korea's number one carmaker is on target to continue its global expansion, which was revisited in the theme of the corporate display at this year's Seoul Motor Show. In its presentation, the company dropped a major hint of a forthcoming rear-wheel drive vehicle that is described by Hyundai executives as a "serious sports car."
Although the idea of a true performance Hyundai sounds too good to be true, the car's development was addressed during its press conference there. Executive Senior Vice- President, Hyun Soon Lee, responded to the press' eager questions with a
The announced rear-wheel drive sports machine will become the fourth-generation Tiburon, which is set to make a global debut sometime during 2007. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)
surprising answer. "Yes, we are developing rear-wheel drive for the next sports car," he admitted.
This remark not only caught the press, show-goers and enthusiasts off guard, but also other company executives who had been keeping the project under wraps.
The development of a 'halo' sports car is seen as beneficial for brand image, giving consumers something to look up to. By building a capable performance sports car, Hyundai would effectively increase its appeal to younger generations who aren't as interested in quality or reliability as they are in image.
According to insiders, this rear-wheel drive sports machine will become the fourth-generation Tiburon, which is set to make a
A body similar to the 2+2 HCD-8 concept would do wonders for the brand's image. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)
global debut sometime during 2007. 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. A body similar to the 2+2 HCD-8 would do wonders for the brand's image; it has organic curves, clutter-free surfaces and a high metal-to-glass ratio, reinforcing a more mature, high-end sports car look, like that of the Nissan 350Z and Infiniti G35 Coupe.
By entering into the field of RWD performance coupes, Hyundai would effectively be targeting a loftier 'breed' of vehicles
This is the kind of vehicle Hyundai hopes will target the Mazda RX-8 and Infiniti G35. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)
compared to sports compacts like the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Acura RSX, its usual competition. It's an odd thought, but this is the kind of vehicle Hyundai hopes will target the Mazda RX-8 and Infiniti G35.
In order to successfully compete, it will need a serious upgrade in power from the current 2.7-liter DOHC V6 found in top model Tiburons. It's unlikely that Hyundai would go through the process of supercharging the V6 as it did with its HCD-8 concept, but 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. The knowledge that a rear-wheel drive chassis is being developed for a sports car opens the doors to another radical
Hyundai is also considering developing a large rear-wheel drive vehicle for North American consumption, to sit above the recently-introduced Azera. This Equus concept shows a possible styling direction. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)
possibility - that Hyundai is considering developing a large rear-wheel drive vehicle to sit above the recently-introduced Azera. The upscale RWD sedan could effectively put Hyundai in a position to contend in the high-end executive market currently filled by BMW, Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, among others. Such a model, or models, would probably be developed in a similar method to Nissan's F-MR architecture, sharing critical components such as the suspension, structure and drivetrains, granting the ability to create different-sized vehicles with unique driving characteristics.
Hyundai has long built a large luxury sedan for its home market and other global markets, named Equus. A large car concept that went by the same name and the designation HCD-7,
Hyundai has long built a large luxury sedan for its home market and other global markets, named Equus. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)
stunned auto show goers in 2002, showing that the Korean carmaker could indeed build something to rival top-tier brands, and now that its cars and SUVs are gaining respect for outshining the likes of Honda and Toyota, as well as Lexus now that Consumer Report's announced the Sonata as the most reliable car available in the U.S., the thought of a luxury Hyundai, or a separate premium fighting brand, doesn't seem out of the question.
The development of a rear-wheel driven sports car would be the first step. The vehicle's very premise is also something that's quite remarkable for a company that has spent the majority of its efforts concentrating on quality and reliability in mainstream segments.
he Tiburon is the brand's only "niche" vehicle, and can be traced back fifteen years to the S-Coupe, a two-door notchback coupe
The new small to midsize sporty car should arrive within three years' time. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)
based on the X-2 Excel, one of Hyundai's first front-wheel drive cars. Hyundai's intentions to make the S-Coupe a pseudo-sports machine came to fruition after launching the Turbo model, a cult classic that helped Hyundai launch its rally car program. The S-Coupe evolved in 1995 to become the first generation Tiburon, based on the J2 (Elantra) chassis. Two evolutions along, the Tiburon has become a formidable competitor, elevating Hyundai to a position where it competes head-on with Acura and Volkswagen, and their respective RSX and GTI models.
To fill in the gap left by shifting the Tiburon upscale, Hyundai is considering a high-performance all-wheel drive sports compact loosely based on the MC4 (next-generation Accent) platform. The small sporty car should arrive within three years' time. The next-generation Tiburon, in combination with a new large sedan and the potential small sports car, should contribute significantly to Hyundai's plans to become one of the world's top five manufacturers by the decade's end.
2000 Hyundai Coupe 2.0 → 2003 Hyundai Coupe 2.0 → 1999 BMW 740i → 2009 BMW 530d M
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