Hyundai Coupe (Tiburon) 2001 - 2004 coupe

Not for everyone

For the first time, I saw this car in photographs from last year's Frankfurt car dealership, and to say that he impressed me would mean to say nothing. Awesome apparatus! A low swift silhouette, impeccable proportions, exquisite plastic of the body fascinated and fascinated. The car seemed to me not a soulless metal object, but an animated creature, right from the pictures radiated life -giving energy.




It was difficult to believe that this miracle was not a concept car, but a serial car, and that it wears a rather modest brand of Hyundai. True, I dare to assume that the last circumstance was not a revelation for our readers: Korean cars regularly They get to us on tests and equally regularly surprise a steadily growing level of technical culture. Models such as Santa Fe, Terracan and XG already look worthy today against the backdrop of their eminent competitors, and after two car generations their descendants will be able to apply for key positions. Unless, of course, the evolution of the South Korean industry will continue to go at the same pace. It will be fair to say that the new Coupe was an unexpected surprise, although its appearance should be expected.

  

Then there was a fleeting meeting with a car on the street, and she only resurrected past emotions. The main news was that in reality Coupe looks no worse than in magazines. That's just more modest in dimensions. Yes, this is her angry machine with an athletically embossed body, ready to break any opponent. After a moment, Hyundai militaric was bent into the city stream, leaving me to count the weeks in anticipation of our acquaintance.
Finally happened. All day Coupe will be at our disposal, and all day we will admire it as they admire the thoroughbred horse. To admire the impeccable bend of his waist line, enthusiastically study the game of faces on his sides, with the vying of the vocational with his colleagues all the details of his appearance. Look at the gills of the front wings that seem to breathe a car, look at the chiseled anti -wing, evaluate the bold shape of the outer mirrors and the dynamics of the side skirts. And with what care the neck of the fuel tank is made! The bolts with which it is attached to the body is the most real, and the entire element is in perfect harmony with the pattern of the wheelset. So, in general, Koreans should be congratulated on the successful completion of the assignment, which was not on the shoulder of the Japanese themselves, namely the creation of a truly stylish compact compact. With success double, since inside Coupe turned out to be no less remarkable and memorable than outside!

  

The black decoration of the salon and the generous pseudo -agricultural decor are forced to involuntarily perceive the car with all seriousness. Much here sets up in combat ladies and overlays on pedals from perforated metal, and nozzles of central ventilation deflectors, almost exactly repeating dimensions, and the mutual arrangement of the speedometer and tachometer. However, a group of additional devices on the central console was a real revelation. This was made by instructions of instant fuel consumption, voltage in the on -board network and attention (!) Twisting the engine! You will not meet this in every supercar! But, by the way, asceticism characteristic of racing orientation machines is alien to: the car is equipped with climate control and unprecedentedly high-class acoustics. The dynamics of the JBL brand of all calibers are found in the cabin at every step, and a subwoofer is also installed in the trunk. So the sound caressing hearing or attracting general attention (depending on what you need music in the car) is provided.

  

Now about landing, for this question was the most sick. First, I would like to praise leather chairs for their successful profile and verified side support. And then to state a sad fact: the driver tall above 180 cm will not be up to ergonomics, he simply intensifies the ceiling with his head. The roof of the car is so low, and the glass hatch with electric drive eats precious centimeters of space. And no matter what do you move back at least, at least back the effect of the effect. So tall people in Coupe will have a hard time. However, like those who suffer from claustrophobia, since the car’s interior is frankly crowded. Therefore, the fact that the rear children's seats are made folding is attributed to the pluses. With all the desire, I will not say good words about visibility through the rear window. To be honest, it is completely absent, and when moving in reversing, one has to rely only on external mirrors. On the other hand, such problems are characteristic of a sports compartment. The main thing is that the car delivers a high in the process of driving. And what about Hyundai? It turned out the following.
 
Shiftronix automatic box (reconfigured ZF Tiptronic) is an excellent pair of two -liter motor. A solid supply of torque, smooth and logical switching will please any owner of a family sedan. But in the world of low -profile rubber and formidable spoilers, the strips are raised much higher! If you focus on these strips, you will have to admit that the car with the lazy one starts, leaving the anti -tugal system without work, up to 3500 rpm the motor is spinning sluggish, and the manual mode of switches of the automaton does not add agility. Fortunately, this situation is quite permitted by a two-liter Coupe with a five-speed mechanical transmission, and even better to opt for a top version with a V6 engine and mechanics about six steps. But the upgrade brakes do not need promptly hugging the speedometer does not represent any difficulties.

  

The controllability of the machine leaves the most positive impressions. The reactions are accurate, understandable and unambiguous, the steering retains optimal information content in any situation. In turns, the car holds the road with a dead grip, demonstrating the tendency to the easy demolition of the front axle in the limit. Coupe behaves so reliably that you start to want more so that the ruts of the car to the steers are even faster, and that the back suspension works more actively on the bends. However, implicitly fulfilling all the team’s teams, Hyundai does not encourage excessive emotionality. It turns out that by the nature of the controllability this car is closer to the exemplary German hatchbacks than to expressive classmates. Suspension? The harsh, of course, however, even repeating the relief of the road, the car does not bother with shaking.
 
Yes, the Hyundai Coupe is ambiguous, but was there disappointment? No. I will just envy the people with white envy to whom this bright car is suitable in size. And I dare to recommend that they be more scrupulous in the selection of the engine and the box.
 

The car is provided by the company Vostok-Auto.
During the test, the car is insured ASK Trust.
 
Text: Leonid Klyuyev
Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

A source: Wheel magazine [No. 58/2002]