Until now, we've had to be content with only spy shots of Hyundai's Equus replacement, usually in heavy camouflage. But now we're treated to the image you see above, though the camo has been replaced with heavy shadows and a glaring spotlight.
Hyundai's replacement for the Tiburon (aka the "Coupe" outside the U.S.) will make its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next September. As expected, the new Coupe will be inspired by the Velostar concept that debuted in Seoul last year and will be built atop the Hyundai i30/Kia Forte's front-wheel-drive platform. Hyundai insiders suggest that the Coupe will be approximately the size of the last generation Toyota Celica, smaller than the upcoming Genesis Coupe, and will feature a shooting-brake body style.
The new Coupe will go on sale abroad shortly after its unveiled in Frankfurt, and there's no word yet on when Hyundai will import the new two-door to the U.S. to replacing the aging Tiburon.
Hyundai is planning a big showing at this year's SEMA show, dispatching with orange Elantras and be-winged Accents in favor of highlighting the automaker's first foray into rear-wheel-drive performance. Six concepts are planned – three Genesis sedans and three Genesis coupes – with both vehicles getting the attention of the country's top aftermarket specialists.
Hyundai will be releasing teasers of the three Genesis coupe projects in the coming weeks, but the first is proof that the aftermarket is taking Hyundai's new turbocharged 2.0-liter coupe seriously. Rhys Millen Racing has rendered up its own interpretation of what the Genesis coupe is capable of, with an eye on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Formula D drift series and Redline time attack.
The RMR coupe will benefit from a prototype wide body kit and turbo setup, built in house by Rhys and his team, sending power to the rear wheels through an HKS heavy-duty sequential gearbox. Suspension duties are handled by a set of K&W coilovers, along with Enkei racing wheels and Bridgestone RE-01 tires. Brembo brakes are mounted fore and aft, and inside a Sparco steering wheel and seats join an carbon fiber dash and an eight-point roll cage.
According to Hyundai's PR man, Miles Johnson, Millen is making regular calls to Hyundai engineers to extract every last bit of performance from the coupe, and expect more details on final output and the other two coupes throughout the summer.
PRESS RELEASE
Hyundai teams up with Rhys millen racing to introduce genesis coupe at SEMA show
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 30, 2008 – Hyundai Motor America announced today that it has teamed up with Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) to create the "Art of... [Read More]
Hyundai Motor America officials called this the official SEMA measuring session for the company's rear-drive coupe, which is based on the shortened version of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis Sedan platform.
"Normally, we've done this closer to the start of production," Wayne Killen, director of strategic product planning for Hyundai Motor America, told us. "But we really wanted the aftermarket companies to get a start on it."
Hyundai has seen record sales and profits for June 2008 throughout the world, and China was no exception. The Hyundai Elantra was the best-selling car in China in June with 24,257 units sold. In May, Hyundai sold 12,239 units of the popular compact sedan in the country.
This was quite a commendable feat as the Elantra managed to rise four ranks to the top from last month. In May, the Volkswagen Jetta was the best-seller with the Volkswagen Santana, Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai Elantra following behind. In June, the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Santana, Volkswagen Jetta, and Buick Excelle made the top five rounding.
Mid-size car sales have fallen considerably due to the changing gas prices, and the Toyota Camry was particularly hit hard. On the other hand, sales of compact cars are expected to only increase dramatically as the gas prices show no sign of stopping for a couple of months.
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