Hyundai Coupe (Tiburon) 2001 - 2004 coupe

Running lizards

The beginning of the century of new faces and new opportunities is the best reflected in the Hyundai Coupe. The pressure and aggression are the main features of the design of this car, which is more likely to real sports cars than to walking coupe.

Four years ago, Hyundai decided to demonstrate its mighty technical potential to the world. But how to do that? You can, of course, create a breathtaking sports car with an appropriate price. However, units will be able to become its owners, and worldwide glory will not work. But what if all knowledge and achievements are invested in a more prosaic model? After all, a machine that meets various tastes will be dispersed throughout the light for many thousands of circulation! On that and decided. In the fall of 2001, the World Coupe concept materialized at the Frankfurt car dealership, and six months later the novelty came to the dealers.

The car turned out to be multifaceted both in the literal and figurative sense. There is no trace of the previous Hyundai models. Low hood, trapezoidal grille of the radiator, a huge air intake from the edge to the edge of the front bumper. A clearly drawn side line, starting from the gills near the front wing and ending with a low spoiler. Separately standing, but successfully inscribed in the canvas of the design, external mirrors. A lid of a gas tank with deliberately displayed bolts of fastening. Weighted rear lights and, of course, the trunks of two exhaust pipes. All this applies to the world of car racing than to the life of housewives.

The salon is no less stylish: a three -spoke steering wheel, sports front seats, a high torpedo, a metal central console, aluminum pedals. I want to get behind the wheel faster.

If you decide to hit the three -time or four, you will first let the satellites go to the rear places. It is not difficult to do this: both front chairs are folded, and the seats move forward. It is much more difficult for volunteers (otherwise you can’t call them) to accommodate in the second row of space either for legs or heads. However, the fact that the machine has a landing formula 2+2 does not hide the manufacturer. Firstly, this is declared in the accompanying documents, and secondly, the icon at the end of the third door depicts how this very door beats a person along the cumpol. So, when you get in the back seat, do not forget to pull your head into your shoulders when closing the trunk.

A lot of belongings will fit into the trunk, despite the fact that the subwoofer is installed here, but not some, but Harman/BeCker. Six speakers scattered throughout the cabin were made by the same company. If you optimize the sound of a CD resigner, the music in the driver's place will sound no worse than in the Philharmonic.

The new Hyundai coupe is larger than the previous one: length +50 mm, width +30, height +15. If the increase in length and height is practically not noticeable, then the increase in the width is well felt. The driver and the front passenger are not in contact with the elbows, so the pose of one does not depend on the pose of the other. The average armrest serves both neighbors without causing communal strife.

Despite the fact that Coupe has become a more sports car, the driver does not resemble a bobsleist landing. Of course, it is somewhat different than in most cars, but still convenient. In any case, to complain that the fifth point almost shouts about asphalt will not have to be.

The review from the driver's place is not bad. Not an aquarium, of course, but for a meaningful driving around the city there is enough. In this regard, large external mirrors are very helped. And the salon does not remain unemployed. True, you can look at it only if there are no passengers in the back seat. If there is, you are unlikely to resist the laughter, finding in which poses your fellow travelers are forced to stay.

In general, it is better to look forward, to the sides, into external mirrors and devices. They are easily read, although not all are concentrated on the shield, part stands apart, lined up in a row on the central console: the instant fuel flow rate, a voltmeter and sensor of torque of the engine, how much entertaining, so useless.

Of the three proposed engines, not the strongest (V6 2.7) is installed on our Coupe, but not the weakest (1.6) with a working volume of 2 liters. He works in pairs with a 4-speed automatic Shiftronix transmission, which, being double-mode, selects the programs itself or allows the driver to do this. Moreover, if in manual mode you blink the inclusion of the next gear, the box will correct the error. So you will not be able to hold the maximum torque of the engine on a car with an automatic machine.

But 138 horses will provide you with a dynamic ride. Of course, 9 seconds to a hundred are not a record, but it is enough to arouse interest in your person from the side. Almost everyone wanted to catch our car, who wanted to see closer, who to bite. But few succeeded. And if on the streets we willy-nilly became an object of study due to constant stops at traffic lights, then on the suburban highway there were fewer tails, trying to get to us, quickly fell off, just like that of a lizard.

The analogy with the shustle reptile is appropriate not only about this. Remember how the brisk creature moves? It rushes headlong, then rises like a dug, then it will dramatically change the direction of movement. And all this is so easy that you wonder. The Hyundai Coupe behaves about the same way. Thanks to the new suspension, he literally sticks to the roadway and completely changes the course. By the way, for the sake of increasing the stability of the car, the rut of the wheels is increased by 20 mm, and the longitudinal angle of the rotation axis from 2.39 to 3.12 degrees.

As for the brakes, we have seen more than once of their effectiveness. The developers argue that the new car has become much shorter for the braking distance, and we have no reason not to believe this. Even if you approach this issue theoretically, 15-inch brake discs should stop the car much faster than 14-inch.

Of course, we did not want to check the work of passive security systems. But if anything happens, a seven -speed distribution system that takes the blow away from the driver and passenger will take care of the crew. Even with a frontal clash, they will be the most protected.

Active systems carry their service constantly. Under the supervision of a traction control system, a moving car is located every second. You can turn it off, but you should not do this, especially on a slippery road. Until you get up with control, there is a great probability of demolition of the rear axle. However, such a sin is found in almost any car. Like another price, always looking high. Although, it seems to us, $ 25 thousand. It is not such a big fee for the wonderful sensations that the new Hyundai Coupe gives.

Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [05/2002]