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Hyundai Confirms Development of Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car

Is Koreas Number One Automaker Pushing Its Sports Car Upscale?

Having just opened an all-new factory in Alabama, launched three completely updated cars, in the Accent, Sonata, and Azera, and previously juiced up its standard warranty, Hyundais plans for world domination appear to be proceeding with utmost efficiency.

Koreas number one carmaker is on target to continue its global expansion, which was revisited in the theme of the corporate display at this years Seoul Motor Show. In its presentation, the company dropped a major hint of a forthcoming rear-wheel drive vehicle that is described by Hyundai executives as a "serious sports car."

Although the idea of a true

"Yes, we are developing rear-wheel drive for the next sports car," admitted Hyundai Executive Senior Vice- President, Hyun Soon Lee. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

performance Hyundai sounds too good to be true, the cars development was addressed during its press conference there. Executive Senior Vice- President, Hyun Soon Lee, responded to the press eager questions with a surprising answer. "Yes, we are developing rear-wheel drive for the next sports car," he admitted.

This remark not only caught the press, show-goers and enthusiasts

The announced rear-wheel drive sports machine will become the fourth-generation Tiburon, which is set to make a global debut sometime during 2007. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

off guard, but also other company executives who had been keeping the project under wraps.

The development of a halo sports car is seen as beneficial for brand image, giving consumers something to look up to. By building a capable performance sports car, Hyundai would effectively increase its appeal to younger generations who arent as interested in quality or reliability as they are in image.

According to insiders, this rear-wheel

A body similar to the 2+2 HCD-8 concept would do wonders for the brands image. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

drive sports machine will become the fourth-generation Tiburon, which is set to make a global debut sometime during 2007. Having received tremendous positive response from the all-wheel drive HCD-8 sports tourer concept car that the South Korean automaker showed off at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, its thought that the new Tiburon will be similarly shaped, carrying the same bold grille, up-turned headlamps and sporty three-door liftback design. A body similar to the 2+2 HCD-8 would do wonders for the brands image; it has organic curves, clutter-free surfaces and a high metal-to-glass ratio, reinforcing a more mature, high-end sports car look, like that of the Nissan

This is the kind of vehicle Hyundai hopes will target the Mazda RX-8 and Infiniti G35. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

350Z and Infiniti G35 Coupe.

By entering into the field of RWD performance coupes, Hyundai would effectively be targeting a loftier breed of vehicles compared to sports compacts like the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Acura RSX, its usual competition. Its an odd thought, but this is the kind of vehicle Hyundai hopes will target the Mazda RX-8 and Infiniti G35.

In order to successfully compete, it will need a serious upgrade in power from the current 2.7-liter DOHC V6 found in top model Tiburons. Its unlikely that Hyundai would go through the process of supercharging the V6 as it did with its HCD-8 concept, but it is likely that the company will opt for its new Lambda-type engine series, which includes 230-horsepower 3.3-liter

Hyundai is also considering developing a large rear-wheel drive vehicle for North American consumption, to sit above the recently-introduced Azera. This Equus concept shows a possible styling direction. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

and 265-horsepower 3.8-liter V6s, which debuted in the new Sonata and Azera/Grandeur respectively.

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