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11/04/2005: "Hyundai Coupe Gets Fresh Face For 2005"

Inexpensive automobiles have their place in the market, and good, inexpensive ones often prove to be happy surprises.Such is the case with the new 2005 Hyundai Tiburon SE V6. The Tiburon — Spanish for “shark” — is a pleasant and capable front-wheel-drive sports coupe whose road manners belie its bargain-basement price.

This new-look Coupe features a redesigned front profile including new headlamps, aggressive looking new front air intake, front bumper and fog lamps, new side ‘shark gills’, new rear light clusters, new door mirrors, 17 inch alloy wheels on the 1,975cc 2.0 SE (as seen up to now on the 2.7 V6) and 17 inch lightweight forged alloy wheels on the potent 2,656cc 2.7 V6.

Meanwhile, interior changes include: new lighter headlining, an improved overhead console and additional chrome interior touches. There is also a new leather-trimmed cloth interior on the 1,599cc 1.6 S.

Performance and economy remain impressive. The 1.6 S has a top speed of 115mph and covers 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds. The 2.0 SE has 141bhp, a top speed of 129mph and reaches 62mph from a standstill in 9.3 seconds.
The range-topping 2.7 V6 boasts 165bhp, has a top speed of 137mph and 0-62mph figure of just 8.3 seconds.

Hyundai’s Coupe now consistently outsells Toyota’s Celica and Audi’s TT, and the UK has become the biggest European market for the car, ahead of Spain and Italy.

Prices for the new Coupe are as follows: 1.6 S: £14,795; 2.0 SE manual: £16,795; 2.0 SE automatic: £17,795; 2.7 V6 manual: £18,795; 2.7 V6 automatic: £19,795.

To browse our range of wheels and tyres, catalytic converters, and more products that could complement this car, see these pages.