In Paris today, the bandages came off Hyundai's Tiburon - referred to simply as the Hyundai Coupe here in Europe - revealing the results of its second face-lift. The first occurred 3 years ago, and was meant to clean up a few sagging lines in the initial design and to present a more chiseled, aggressive face. And it worked too, as the first Tiburon face-lift resulted in the best one yet. So what happened here?
This second facelift seems to have pulled the sheet metal too taut around the headlights, creating a permanent silly grin effect. I know this Tiburon’s body has to last 2 or 3 more years, but there is such a thing as leaving well enough alone. And where did the shark gills go? Tiburon means shark, for Pete’s sake.
But then, as I look at the French cars around me, I start to see frontal similarities. Perhaps the locals might like this? I don’t think it will go over so well in the USA, however. Speaking as a former Tiburon lessee of the pre and first face-lift varieties, I wouldn’t have traded-in a third time for this one. According to sources at the show, what you see is what we get.
Inside, the interior has been reworked, with a welcome reduction of the black-hole feeling due to the tasteful application of authentic-looking brushed aluminum and what looks like a lighter shade of black. The HVAC controls look and feel of a much higher quality as well. And it’s what’s inside that counts after all, isn’t it?
Mechanical changes to the second face-lift Tiburon are nil, and the US version is expected to look the same. North American prices were not discussed.
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When I first strolled over to the Hyundai stand to look at this car, I thought the tires looked awfully big, filling the fenders like the 215/45R17s on my own Tib never did. I checked the size, found it to be the same, shrugged my shoulders and strode off to my next appointment.
Fast-forward to today, where I found myself at the Kia stand thinking that ALL of the cars there had the same over-tired - and I don't mean sleepy - look. Wait a minute! Something fishy is going on here! Sure enough, all of the Kias on display had 15mm (about six tenths of an inch) aftermarket wheel spacers on them.
Foul! For shame!
Since the two companys are more closely tied at the corporate and engineering level than either of their US sales offices would like to admit, I made a bee-line back to the Hyundai stand, two halls away. Sure enoungh, ALL of the Hyundais had the same 15mm spacers, including both Tiburons in the photos above.
Lest you dismiss this as a common auto show trick, I made a point of looking at as many of the big name competition's wheels as I could during the long trek between the corporate twins' booths. Nope. I didn't see spacers on anyone else's stuff.
Boo! Hiss!
What a disappointment. I was really hoping the new V6 in the Sontata would find its way into the new Tibby. But as mechanical changes are nil, I guess Hyundai is content not selling this car anymore.
That is a shame, particularly since I still think this is the sexiest car in its price range. I'd even go as far to say that the Tib is the Eclipse of the 21st century. The raked headlights are a nice touch.
Last generation although a knockoff of the legendary Renault Alpine was much more handsome than this atrocity, it seem like something that would come from cheap body kit shop redesign....on the other hand last generation wasn't very original anyways....
Not a good look for the Tiburon. I don't like the headlights, they look tacky. Too stretched for my taste. And the lines of the car are too soft. What I liked about the old Tiburon was it's hard lines. I will have to say, I think that these aren't going to sell nearly as well as last years model. Poorly done Hyundai. Sad thing is, they'll wait for three more years to redesign again. I wish I could have seen this before now. I would have voiced my opinion much earlier. Oh well, better luck in the next facelift Hyundai.
I guess I'm in the minority here. I actually don't mind this facelift...and that's exactly what this is. An all-new car is evidently about three years off and I'm very interested to see what a vastly-improved Hyundai can put together around a performance coupe when it starts from scratch. In the meantime, as I said, this refreshening doesn't offend as much as it evidently does some others. Time will tell.
WHAT THA???!!! THIS IS PROOF THE PEOPLE AT HYUNDAI ARE FINALLY TIRED OF WORKING... THE BEST STYLED CAR(BY COMPARISON) NOW TAKES ANTI-DEPRESSANTS. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THEIR PINK SLIPS BY NEXT MONDAY!!!! YEA!!!
THE NEW TIBURON MODEL IS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT IN THE 2009 MODEL YEAR (2008) AND HYUNDAI SAYS THAT THE NEW TIBBY IS GOING TO BE FOR THE SPORTS CAR ENTHUSIAST. MAYBE EVEN RWD AND ONE OF THE NEW TAU V8 ENGINES MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. THE TAU ENGINES ARE THREE BRAND NEW HYUNDAI V8 ENGINES THAT COMES IN THREE SIZES. 4.6 LITERS, 5.0 LITERS AND A TOP SPEC 5.5 LITRE SUPERCHARGED. HP RATINGS ARE YET TO BE RELEASED BUT THE 5.5 SUPERCHARGED SOUNDS TEMPTING... LIKE AN AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR. *DROOLS LIKE HELL*
I owened a "03" Tiburon that I just traded in for the new "07".Yesterday infact!!! .I really like the new body style!!! It looks more like how the cars are looking for the future. In fact I can't wait for the Hard Top Convertible to come out in 1210!! I will definetly be in line for that. I never had a problem with my car like everyone else. Drive it like u got sense and take care of it and it will last forever, but drive it hard and treat it like crap and of course it will break.Some of the new changes will take some getting use to but I like the look the first time I seen it. (Way to go hyundai made me come back for number#2..) Just waiting on number#3!!!!