Local Launch
Blue Mountains (NSW)
What we like
>> Styling revisions work
>> Quiet ride
>> Much of the same from good ol' Tib
Not so much
>> New, boy-racer wing
>> Interior still clumsy
>> Much of the same from good ol' Tib
Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0
Safety: 3.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.0/5.0
X-factor: 3.0/5.0
Hyundai's long-serving Tiburon coupe has been given a make-over for 2007. Mainly cosmetic with some suspension changes, the update gives the coupe only a mild dose of what it really needs for any more life in its current state.
The 'shark gills' are gone in favour of a sleeker nose and the side crease lines now follow through to the front wheels. And while the Tiburon has lost some of its character without the large side vents, it looks narrower and more streamlined.
Updates up front include new quad headlights, restyled bonnet and a revised front bumper which incorporates a slimline upper air intake and full-width lower grille with foglight pods at each side.
A new 'high-riser' rear wing is included in the make-over, sitting higher above the boot than the previous wing. Restyling to the rear also includes a new bumper and taillights, and dual tail pipes that are shaped along the same contours as the Tiburon's body lines.
The obscure 'T' badge on the rear of previous Tiburons has been replaced with Hyundai's more-identifiable 'Flying H', but the bonnet retains the original motif.
The 07 Tiburon gets new forked-spoke design alloy 17-inch wheels and ESP with integrated traction control. The new coupe also has front seat side thorax airbags, in addition to its standard safety features such as dual front airbags, ABS and EBD.
Interior updates include air quality system, a new audio system with an integrated auxiliary jack for connecting MP3 players and the like, and blue-hue instrument lighting.
The interior remains rather disjointed-looking, however. The colour scheme is light and uplifting but the dash unit design is dated and lacks uniformity, especially after the straight-forward solidity of some of the latest small cars like Holden Astra and Ford Focus.
Tiburon's suspension has been retuned, with new front suspension lower control arms and bushes, which Hyundai says makes the coupe's "cornering a touch more neutral". Not usually ones to pick sides either, we can attest the Tib responded well to winding roads on the short launch route, pointing quickly into corners and remaining balanced unless under real pressure like late braking. Keep it conservative, and the Tiburon does a good job as a sporty cruiser.
We’ll reserve our final judgment after a more comprehensive test route but we can vouch that the hardy coupe is a decent drive and does well enough with its 123kW/245Nm 2.7-litre V6, managing to sprint up to our pitstop in the Blue Mountains and back again comfortably to Hyundai's Homebush headquarters.
We drove the uphill run with the six-speed manual, which remains a smooth, well-matched combination, and returned with the Selectronic four-speed manual-mode automatic, also a good unit, with prompt shift response in manual mode.
Tiburon is calm over highways and can even turn on some bite and fun in the twisty stuff. It's just a shame that for whatever laurels the coupe has gained, Hyundai seems to be resting.
For the launch of the 'new' Tiburon, Hyundai has arranged 62 special 'Vivid Blue' coupes with all the abovementioned revisions but including 'ts' badges, power tilt and slide sunroof, matching blue-trimmed carpet mats, unique keyring and black leather trim.
The standard 07 Tiburon comes with red and black leather trim and is offered in either solid 'Shine Red', 'Continental Silver' metallic or mica 'Stone Black' duco.
Tiburon starts at $34,990 for the six-speed manual and $36,780 for the Selectronic manual-mode automatic (Ed: when we last tested the Tiburon in May 2002 here, the top-spec Tib was priced at $41,880!). The limited edition blue 'ts' model is priced at $37,590 for the six-speed manual and $39,380 for the Selectronic automatic.
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