Autoblog

VIDEO: Korean Spirra supercar runs with the big dogs

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, South Korea

Oullim Motors Spirra - click above image to watch the video

The big dogs in this case being a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and a pair of Ferrari F430s. And in case you're wondering, a Spirra is a Korean supercar built by Oullim Motors and sold through Proto Motors since 2007. Looking like a not half bad mashup of a late model Toyota MR2 and an Acura NSX, what counts of course is what's under the hood. The original Spirra (by Proto) had a mid-mounted 320 hp 4.6-liter Ford Modular V8 -- essentially a Mustang Cobra motor. However, once Oullim took over, the American muscle was dropped in favor of a force inducted Hyundai V6. Specifically the 2.7-liter Delta unit out of the Tiburon.

When hooked to a supercharger, the Spirra S makes 400 hp. Not bad at all. However, when a turbocharger gets involved the Spirra Turbo generates a whopping and impressive 500 hp. Looks like there is a replacement for displacement, no? A supercar needs this sort of thrust, especially when it's going to tangle with the aforementioned big dogs of the Italian persuasion. And here's the kicker -- the Spirra only weighs about 2,200 pounds. That's one fat guy more than a Lotus Elise. Meaning its power-to-weight ratio is on the deviant side of totally insane.

Top speed is well over 200 mph, especially with something called "Mission Tuning Offset" installed. We're not really sure what that is. Nor are we sure when watching the video if we're looking at the super'd or turbocharged car, though we'll err on the side of turbo. And with a price tag (about $130,000) that's about half that of the big dogs it's running with, we think we'd like to get our hands on a Spirra. Like, yesterday. Video of the hoonage, after the jump. Thanks to Austin for the tip!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Korean Spirra supercar runs with the big dogs

VIDEO: Korean Spirra supercar runs with the big dogs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai CEO Krafcik on production Veloster: "Think of it like a four-passenger Honda CRX"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hatchback, Hyundai

2007 Hyundai Veloster concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Last February, we revealed that a production version of the Hyundai Veloster was in the works and would likely hit the market as a late 2011 or 2012 model. At the time, we were hoping for a modern reincarnation of the classic Honda CRX, and it seems like Hyundai may be answering our calls.

Speaking to Inside Line, Hyundai of America's President and CEO John Krafcik says the new machine will look 70% to 80% like the Veloster concept that we saw firsthand at the LA Auto Show in 2007, and it will feature some sort of unique styling element. Says Krafcik, "It might be doors or a unique roof or something with the hatch. But it won't be like anything out there before in the small car segment."

Krafcik goes on to say the car will be significantly smaller than the firm's own Genesis Coupe (not to mention the Kia Forte) and it will be powered by a 1.6-liter four-banger fortified with direct injection that will offer up 140 horsepower while returning over 40 miles per gallon.

"Think of it like a four-passenger Honda CRX. It'll be a little car you can take out and wring its neck and still get good mileage," he said. "Fun and economical, with a great power-to-weight ratio." Sounds like a winner. All that's left to figure out is the car's name, which may or may not end up being either Veloster or Tiburon.

Gallery: Hyundai Veloster Concept

[Source: Inside Line]

Hyundai CEO Krafcik on production Veloster: "Think of it like a four-passenger Honda CRX" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surprise! Hyundai to phase out Tiburon

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hyundai

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon.

The news came courtesy of John Krafcik, Hyundai's product development veep, who told Automotive News that the 2008 model year of the Tiburon would be its last. However, that doesn't mean the Tiburon is down for the count. Krafcik is insistent that the Genesis Coupe, which will be coming out about the same time the Tibby is euthanized, isn't a Tiburon replacement. "We are seriously looking at a small front-wheel-drive coupe to replace the Tiburon," Krafcik told AN, but he wouldn't give a time frame for its replacement. He did say that the Veloster coupe concept that debuted at the Seoul motor show last April would be the inspiration for Hyundai's new FWD, two-door offering. Hopefully, when the production version of the Veloster is unveiled, it'll carry the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot found in its RWD sibling.

Gallery: 2008 Hyundai Tiburon

Gallery: Hyundai Veloster Concept

Gallery: Hyundai Concept Genesis Coupe

[Source: Automotive News via Autoweek]

Surprise! Hyundai to phase out Tiburon originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK feeling special, gets Hyundai Coupe TSIII

Alex Nunez — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Hyundai, UK

Click image for a gallery of the Hyundai Coupe TSIII

Hyundai UK has announced that it's offering a lightly-modified special edition Hyundai Coupe (that's "Tiburon" in 'Merican English... or Spanish, really). The Coupe TSIII sounds like it was named by a doo-wop group ("Tee-ess-ay-yay-yay"), comes in four colors and gets new exhaust tips (possibly attached to new mufflers, since a "sportier engine note" is mentioned), Eibach springs, anthracite-finish wheels, quilted leather appointments, a new spoiler, and super-special badging. Power, however, comes from a 141-horsepower 2.0L four. Hey, at least it looks fast.

Gallery: 2008 Hyundai Coupe TSIII (UK)

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading UK feeling special, gets Hyundai Coupe TSIII

UK feeling special, gets Hyundai Coupe TSIII originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Coupe fully undisguised!

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Hyundai

click above image to view more pics of the 2009 Hyundai BK Coupe

New Tiburon Forum member anthony718 just posted some pics of the new Hyundai Coupe totally undisguised. Saying he got the pics from "a friend," he details how the photos came from a market research event back in June. According to the info given, the Coupe would have two engine options, a 2.0L turbo with 215HP and 217 ft-lbs of torque, or a 3.8LV6 with 300HP and 280 ft-lbs. Prices were given as $19,900 for the 4 or $25,900 for the V6. While we have good reason to believe there will be a genuine V8 in the engine bay when we see the car in LA next week, this event was held back in June and changes could have been made since that time.

Hyundai is pitching this new Genesis Coupe as a Mustang fighter, so it's no surprise to see the Coupe sitting next to the Ford in these photos. We've discussed this 2009 model Hyundai quite a bit and now that we have some clear pics, it really looks like it's been worth the wait. Attractive in an Accord or G37 Coupe kind of way, the RWD Korean should make a splash in the sports/GT market when it reaches dealers next year. The looks and specs seem to indicate a worthy competitor, with rumored features like iPod integration in the center console, Bluetooth with the stock head deck, a sunroof, limited slip and possibly even a Brembo brake upgrade. We'll have more details about the car after we see it at the LA Auto Show, but for now, check out the best pics in our gallery below.

Thanks for the tip, Jose!

[Source: New Tiburon Forum]

Gallery: 2009 Hyundai Genesis Coupe private reveal

Hyundai Coupe fully undisguised! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed! Hyundai making Tiburon replacement RWD

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:53:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hyundai

We've had rumors and spy shots before, but up until now we really didn't have any confirmation that Hyundai's new Tiburon replacement would switch from a pull-me to a push-me. With the new rwd platform that the company recently developed for its Genesis luxury sedan, it was expected that the next generation of affordable sports car from Korea would ditch its fwd layout and get some true sports car manners. Well, Hyundai just confirmed that when that car shows up in late 2008 or early 2009, it will indeed be rear-wheel drive.

As predicted, the car will share its rwd platform with the already-announced Genesis sedan, which we should see in about a year. The Tiburon replacement should show up half a year to a year after the sedan, and might even come as a convertible. In fact, there is also a suggestion that we'll be seeing several models based on this platform. We're not sure if the coupe will share the sedan's new V8 in addition to the expected V6, but it would make an interesting competitor for the Mustang if it did. Hyundai has officially said no, but there are still whispers, and if not a V8, some kind of boosted V6 in the top models might suffice.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

Gallery: Hyundai RWD Coupe - spy shots

Gallery: Hyundai RWD Coupe - spy shots II

Confirmed! Hyundai making Tiburon replacement RWD originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fool your friends with Hyundai-powered custom "Ferrari"

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Etc., Hyundai, Ferrari

The lengths people will go to to turn a somewhat ordinary vehicle into something that pretends to be so much more always amazes us. Ferrari seems to be a favorite marque for many to emulate, in fact. Whether it's the simplest Scuderia shields on the fenders, or a full-on Fiero or MR2 rebody, it seems like a lot of folks really wish they had a prancing horse in their garage instead of a Hyundai.

Today's example comes via craiglist, and it's a bit different. What you see above is apparently a real Ferrari... body. It's genuine Maranello aluminum stretched around a custom frame, with some real Ferrari bits here and there, all powered by a Hyundai Tiburon V6. Done up in Ponzi Blue, this shark has 44,000 miles on the clock and looks halfway decent in the two pixelated pics provided. If this sounds like your kind of thing, the going price is "just" $37,500.

[Source: craigslist]

Fool your friends with Hyundai-powered custom "Ferrari" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Motor Show: Hyundai Coupe (Tiburon)

Erin Mays — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 15:24:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Paris Motor Show, Hyundai

The Hyundai Coupe (otherwise known as the Tiburon in the U.S. and Asia) may have launched officially at the Guangzhou Motor Show in China earlier this year, but that didn't stop Hyundai from putting it on its stand at the Paris Motor Show to show off Hyundai's 2007 front-wheel drive sports coupe.

John grabbed these pictures from the peanut gallery of Hyundai's stand, and according to him, the Coupe wasn't even out at the show until the second day of press preview. Earlier in the year as spy shots of the vehicle surfaced, this was initially thought to be the 2008 model, but Hyundai has since corrected us with publicity information indicating that it's the 2007 model.

Fans of earlier models will note that the body style hasn't changed much, with the exception of harder angles on the hood and sides, new headlights, a fatter and flatter nose and cool vender vents. Under the body panels, the vehicle has changed even less -- Hyundai is still offering the same 1.6 and 2.0 liter four-cylinders and 2.7L V6 under the hood, the first of which will likely not be available in the U.S.

Hyundai has freshened up the interior, however, with blue LED instrumentation, extendable sun visors and other goodies.

More pics and press information after the jump.

Paris Motor Show: Hyundai Coupe (Tiburon) originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Oct 2006 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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