Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Hyundai
Spy Shots: 2008 Hyundai Tiburon
With Hyundai's recent string of successful redesigns, we're patiently awaiting to learn what the next incarnation of its Tiburon coupe will be like when it debuts in 2008... make that 2009... actually, make that never, as Motor Trend is reporting the Tiburon will be phased out then to make room for a new rear-wheel drive "poor man's BMW" sport sedan arriving in 2008. The sport sedan will spawn a coupe and convertible in 2009 that will replace the current Tiburon that's been on the market since 2003. These spy shots show that the 2008 Tiburon will receive minor front and rear fascia upgrades before it retires in 2009. [Source: Motor Trend]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Autonews 3:56PM (7/12/2006)
it is very similar to hyundai coupe
http://www.auto-power-girl.com/
Reply
Howard Kerr 4:33PM (7/12/2006)
Well of course, Hyundai NEEDS yet another sedan in their lineup (please note sarcasm). I am not a fan of Hyundai (deleting the V6 and manual transmission combo from the current Sonata went a long way to kill my support), but does this company really need another sedan? At this point, I guess I should be happy that they aren't introducing yet another SUV/CUV...thingee.
And this new car will probably start north of the new Azera, meaning just under 3 Series prices...and of course, that's NOT a crowded niche of the market.
Way to go Hyundai, you had the last real sporty coupe, not counting the Mustang, for sale in the U.S. and now you are pulling the plug.
Reply
Jen 4:40PM (7/12/2006)
I thouhgt this was suppsoed to be the 2007 tiburon facelift...not the 2008 which is supposed to be completely redone...
Reply
PJ 5:04PM (7/12/2006)
I dunno if it's as bad as all that, Howard. The article does say that Hyundai will be spinning a coupe and convertible off their RWD platform as soon as the Tiburon is canceled. For all we know, they might even keep the name.
Hyundai probably knows that, to avoid getting lost in the competitive $30K sport/lux-sedan crowd, they'll need to price their "poor man's 3-Series" well below its rivals. I wouldn't be surprised if MSRPs are pretty close to the Azera's, especially since a full-size FWD softie and a compact RWD sports sedan are hardly going to step on each other's toes, sales-wise.
I like the current Tiburon's looks, but IMHO, it's time for it to go. The 2.7-liter V6 has always been underwhelming as a sports-coupe engine, and its chassis doesn't deliver the tactile enjoyment you'd get from a Civic Si, RSX, or even an Eclipse. The styling was enough to make the Tiburon competitive in 2003, but now, there are too many strong personalities in that price bracket for it to stand out.
Reply
James Sonne 5:19PM (7/12/2006)
Maybe I should duct tape some garbage bags to my car and drive it around and see if I'll find pictures of it on Autoblog the next day.
Reply
Lucas 5:32PM (7/12/2006)
I hope they at least give it the 3.3 liter V6 in the Sonata with the styling revisions. As PJ said, the V6 was never even really competitive with the I4s in other cars, much less other V6s. They have been aiming for the wrong market all along with this car. It has the looks, but not the performance or suspension dynamics to match the RSX, Celica, Mazda 3, Civic Si, etc. It's just not competitive as a sport compact. Give it a better interior, more power, tighten up the handling a bit, and it would be a much better looking and more interesting alternative in the touring coupe class (think Honda Accord Coupe and Toyota Solara).
Reply
Howard Kerr 5:55PM (7/12/2006)
PJ,
yes, I read the part that says a coupe and convertible MAY be spun off this new platform...gee, just like the 3 Series has a coupe and convertible. Or like the G35 has a coupe variant. Hyundai are going upmarket, and while the Tiburon isn't/wasn't THE greatest sporty car, neither was the original Celica.
Reply
Lee 6:10PM (7/12/2006)
The only people I ever see driving Tiburons are teenage girls.
Reply
Noah 6:14PM (7/12/2006)
I used to think "No one shopping for for a BMW would buy a Hyundai" Until a family member told me about their neighbor who sold his new S-Type and bought a Kia Amanti because he thought it was just as good and cut his payments in half. Perhaps only a 60 year old man can understand the logic where an Amanti is just as good as an S-Type but it indeed does happen.
I think these details are a little sketchy though. I suspect we'll see both a sports car and a sport sedan from Hyundai tho.
That way they will have cars to compete with virtually every class leader available in North America except for full size truck and SUV which they certainly could do.
I have to admit I'm something of a brand snob. Heck I'm even a factory snob sometimes. But I have to say the new Sonata is a very good looking car. Here I go... I know I'll regret this but "It's the best looking car in it's class." With that 235hp V6 it's no slouch either. But it doesn't just go that far it has massive breaks and beautiful rims. It even has mature European inspired lighting and an acceptable interior.
--Noah
Reply
naggs 7:19PM (7/12/2006)
this is GREAT news, all the car makers are planning affordable rwd coupes. gms got the kappa, nissan and mazda both have small rwd concept cars out there, and not hyundai.
it would be nice if honda would join the party but they seem to think that fwd is just as good and ford will never make anything that would canabalize sales of the mustang, as if a 2800 lbs car that can go around a corner appeals to the same people as a mustang. hopefully gm will put a damn top on the solstice and be ahead of the curve for the first time since the fifties
Reply
Wally 7:32PM (7/12/2006)
That's the '07. Don't get too excited...
Just a facelift to front and rear lighting. I think there's also side turning signals.
Reply
doglet 7:51PM (7/12/2006)
how has it taken this long for car companies to fill the small rwd void. in a period of about 2 years we will go from ZERO small rwd cars (convertibles are for girls) to 4 or 5 directly competing. ill probably end up with which ever one weighs the least.
Reply
Greg A. 9:16PM (7/12/2006)
Will the Tiburon's corporate twin, the Toscani, get the new styling, too?
(For those of you who have never seen a "Toscani," I mean that as a joke at the expense of the poseurs who buy aftermarket "Toscani" badges and slap them on their Tiburons.)
Reply
Stoneman 11:49PM (7/12/2006)
Put a twin turbo in it, I will buy it.
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
Reply
matt 12:28AM (7/13/2006)
its Tuscani, and its the same car. unlike all the type-r neons i see around town.
Reply
Greg A. 4:48PM (7/13/2006)
Ah, so the Tuscani is what the Tiburon is called in some other markets. Just as the Rabbit is (still) called the Golf abroad. Still, the two "Tuscanis" I've seen here in New York had all the "Hyundai" badges removed, almost certainly because the drivers were too vain to be seen driving a Hyundai. Or maybe they thought they might find some airheaded bimbos who could be fooled into thinking that the Tiburon was an Italian exotic. So they're still poseurs.
All the Hondas and Acuras I've seen that had Type R badges and/or decals still had their Honda or Acura badges.
Reply
Tom Design 10:51PM (7/13/2006)
I was really excited to see this posting. The Triburon had a great Ferrari-cloned look this past model. However, it suffered a horribly black plastick interior (even with leather seats), and was too heavy, and slow with poor gas mileage. Much like the outgoing XG350, it was a porker. And that was sad, because it looked so Ferrari-clone sharp, had nice wheels, and a 6-speed with a V6.
Despite the long overdue update, and underneath all that cladding, this design looks at best like a morph of the outgoing Sebring/Avenger coupe. What happened Hyundai?
Reply
Tibby61 3:01AM (7/14/2006)
I'm disappointed to hear that Hyundai is likely going to cancel the Tiburon, and surprised that some of the comments here are so negative. While I agree that the Tiburon is the heaviest sports car around at 3,000 pounds or so, it's thirsty at the pump, and at 171hp or so, it's underpowered, it's 6 speed almost makes up for it, and the Tiburon is a fantastic tuner car, you can tweak it's hp and modify it almost any way you like, and you can increase it's hp to surpass the Sonata if you're so inclined. Say what you like, but there's no sports car as unique looking as the Tiburon (shark teeth grille, side gills, and might as well call it's spoiler a fin), and when it goes, it's unique look will go with it. I don't see Hyundai being that creative again. As an aside to the poster who ruminated on the Tuscani, that's the Tib's model name in Korea, and while plenty of owners have rebadged their Tibs to a Tuscani, I never saw the point. After all, Tiburon means shark, and the look reflects that, so why rebadge?
Reply
tio 1:44PM (7/16/2006)
I like the current Tib. They should have spent the money on upgrading the interior plastics improving the engine. I saw a whole line of tunner Tib's at a auto show not to long ago. Very cool.
Reply
ken 6:20PM (7/18/2006)
tuscani is what they call the se edetion of tiburon that wasnt sold in us,but canida and elsewhere,and for you that dont know,it was just an upgraded sound system and automatic climate control,but in korea the come with auto folding mirrors,seat warmers,and some other goodies that can be installed after market for very cheap
Reply