Hyundai Coupe (Tiburon) 2001 - 2004 coupe
Korean "Shark"
Hyundai Coupe for those who want to learn how to drive fastWhen a serious car, such as a sports compartment, is a challenger slowly and carefully moves in the right row this is abnormally. And if she hung over the steering wheel, clinging tightly into it, the shy girl is the money. May feminists forgive me. Because to pay for what is never useful for the potential of a car that is not used, you see, nonsense. But there are models that occupy a unique niche in the market and are, as it were, a transitional stage from ordinary machines to expensive city car, and very little, especially in Russia. And one of these Hyundai Coupe cars. It is stylish, quite powerful and relatively inexpensive.
Just take a look at this compartment, isn't it fascinating its predatory appearance? What are only the shark of gills on the sides. And the hood, tapering and dropping almost to the bottom line of headlights? Somewhat reminiscent of the legendary sports kars of the last century. But the combination of clear and even sharp lines with a rounded roof and oval details could only be born now, and this, of course, is the originality and a certain charm. The design was developed by Korean craftsmen, but it is felt that they have learned the lessons of European, especially Italian and English meters. Looking at the car in profile, one cannot fail to note the originality of cast discs 17 inches in diameter.
The back of the car looks even angrier. A powerful spoiler with the third stop signal hangs over the trunk lid and only presses the compartment to the road with its appearance. The shape of the large rear lights, a cut bumper and huge chrome -made peaks of the exhaust system completes the picture. By the way, from these pipes at high speeds of the engine, a pleasant hearing is a sports melody. In a word, the exterior attracts the attention of what I was convinced in a few days of active driving along the capital's streets. And I realized that the concern’s statement about changing the image of its cars is not an empty declaration. This is what happens, which already brings good dividends in many markets.
Doors, as in thoroughbred sports coupes, do not have a framework over the glass. And the salon is designed in good traditions that combine sports and comfort. Black leather chairs have pronounced side support not only in the back of the back, but also in the shoulders. They are located low, as it should be in the sports car, and do not have height adjustment. There is only a small roller that changes the angle of inclination of the lower part of the seat within minor limits. Nevertheless, mechanical adjustments in length and tilt of the back are enough for the driver to take the most convenient and correct position. By the way, my friend, two meters tall, managed, according to him, it was very good to get a job and did not even rest his head against the ceiling. Additional comfort to the driver and front passenger provides a lumbar backup, which is able to adjust a special handle on the left on the back of the seat. Of course, the seats themselves are quite tough, but this is a compartment, not a representative sedan.
The steering wheel of a small diameter can only be moved up and down, but in a wide range. Governing bodies are grouped very successfully. The instrument shield glows red, as if recalling the dynamic potential of the machine. And here's what is curious: on the central console there are three additional windows with indicators of the battery charging, fuel consumption at this second and the engine circle. A separate device showing torque, I meet, perhaps for the first time. Under these signs there is a radio with a compact drive player. It sounds very good, but you can choose an audio system and better. Even lower than the control panel of the climate control system, which works very efficiently. One but: the ambulance temperature sensor is probably not too successful, close to the engine, so in traffic jams it clearly overstates real indicators. And, probably, for this reason, the system can turn on the air conditioner, even if it is not too hot outside.
The back is closely, like in any other compartment. Nevertheless, two people of not too mighty physique can fit there, provided that the seated ones will not push the seats ahead until the end. If someone sat back with the trunk lid open, he should still bend so that he should not inadvertently borrow his head when the trunk is closed. But the worship places are quite enough. There is even a special grid with fasteners so that small things do not hang out on the luggage compartment when active driving. And you can move to Hyundai Coupe quickly.
Transitional stage
Three versions of a car with 1.6, 2.0 and 2.7 liters are available to customers of Europe and America. Only the last two versions of the front -wheel drive Coupe are delivered to Russia. I happened to try the one that is weaker, with a 2-liter engine, and even with a 4-speed automatic checkpoint. Apparently, based on sales of the previous generation of Hyundai Coupe, dealers position this version as a car for women. You can agree with them, but only partly.
I launch the engine and note the excellent sound insulation of the cabin. Vibrations are not felt. I transfer the gearbox lever to the lowest position of Drive and smoothly drive away from the parking lot. I must say that in the first minutes I caught itself on the feeling that from the inside the car seems more, or rather wider than in fact. Apparently, the whole thing is in those widest and high front wings. However, after a couple of minutes, real dimensions are completely felt. Take it off with a breeze.
The Bogorodskoye highway is quite deserted, winding and although you can’t call asphalt even, it is suitable for the first acquaintance. Green light, let's go! The automatic transmission is slightly thoughtful, between the pressing of the gas pedal and the response passes several moments. By the way, Hyundai Coupe does not have a pronounced Kick-Down mode. The stroke of the gas pedal is even and rather soft. You just press until you take the floor. The engine shows what is capable of only after 2.5 thousand rpm. This is also evidenced by the torque sensor, which, by 4500 rpm, issues a value under 200 nm. It is good that on a special digital shield between the speedometer and the tachometer shows the presentation included at the moment. Not very convenient. With intensive acceleration, the electronics will go from one stage to the other at 6500 rpm, where the red zone begins on the tachometer. However, it is worth a little drop in the gas, the machine will immediately turn on the increased gear. Who asks him about it, asks? But at the same time, the presence of a manual gear mode is pleasing, for which it is necessary to remove the lever to the right.
Now, moving it up and down, you can independently move from one step to another. In any case, electronics will not allow the motor to twist, independently switched to the next step when the maximum revolutions are reached. I took advantage of this and achieved a good effect. As soon as the tachometer arrow reached the red zone, the electronics included the following gear, but when the gas was discharged, it did not show excessive independence, which was required. But it is even better not to be lazy and move the lever down when you need to keep the speed at the level or slow down with the engine.
The steering deserves the highest rating. With the growth of speed, the steering wheel is noticeably heavy and allows you to feel perfectly both the car and the road. At the same time, the steering wheel is quite sharp. The suspension of the car deserves comparison with the stool: very tough, I felt all the bumps of the road in full. The rigidity is aggravated by 17-inch discs with low-profile rubber. On the other hand, it is precisely such settings that distinguish real sports cars. After all, we must feel the moment of drift with the whole body, so that at any speed and in any situation, do not lose control of the machine. A couple of bends of the highway was frankly sideways, which gave me great pleasure. At the same time, the girl, who had happened to me with the next day, did not like such settings to the taste.
Shakes, he says, and it becomes scary. This after the stern was slightly demolished on one of the disgustingly made joints on the road. Bad, what demolished? Quite the contrary, the speed was about 140 km/h. By the way, in the 2-liter version of the Hyundai Coupe, there is no stabilization system.
The brakes inspire confidence in the future. 8 of Russia, they are not required to check in some special way: the road is full of drivers who are not aware of what is supposed to turn on the turning signal before the start of the maneuver. So it was necessary to slow down, sometimes sharply, before turning on the ABS, it was necessary.
In general, the car liked the car. I think that it is perfect for those who want to learn how to ride powerful sports coupes in the city and beyond (and not only women at all). True, the mechanical gearbox is much more suitable for this. The compartment will easily teach not to twist the steering wheel, control the moment of drift and the degree of pressing the gas and brake pedals. And will teach to the stiffness of this class of machines.
There are few competitors
I think the market prospects of Hyundai Coupe are very good. The cost of the tested car with a leather salon, automatic transmission, electric windows and mirrors $ 24,990. So he has only one serious competitor to Opel Coupe Bertone on the Russian market.
The Hyundai Coupe version with a 2.7 -liter V6 engine costs more than $ 2,000 more. But this is a completely different, more powerful and dynamic car. He's not for girls at all ...
Andrey Osipov
A source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 7 (10), 2002]
