Hyundai’s style leader is now priced at a recommended retail of just $31,990* for the V6 six-speed manual, $3000 less than the prior campaign price before stock ran out. Tiburon V6 automatic is $33,680* and features Selectronic transmission with a sequential clutchless manual mode. In a segment nearly full of four-cylinder models, Tiburon is now the only V6-powered sports car substantially under $60,000 rrp.

Tiburon also has MP3 capability in its quality six-speaker CD/tuner audio while a vibrant Exciting Blue metallic replaces a darker blue in Tiburon’s six-colour palette, which also offers Samba Red and Ebony as well as silver, white and yellow.

The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Tiburon variant has been discontinued.

Standard equipment in Tiburon V6 includes pollen-filtering air conditioning, dual front airbags, four-channel ABS anti-skid disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution, cruise control, remote central locking with alarm, electric windows and door mirrors, leather trimmed steering-wheel rim and auto gearshift knob, trip computer and a boot luggage net.

Tiburon V6 is well-connected to the road with 17”x 7” alloy wheels shod with low profile 215/45-series unidirectional performance tyres.

“Tiburon has both presence and performance and now represents an even more attractive statement for style-conscious sporty drivers,” said Theo van Doore, Director of Sales & Marketing, Hyundai Motor Co Australia.

“There isn’t a sports car within tens of thousands of dollars offering the ease of driving and bigger-engine effortlessness that Tiburon V6 does, let alone its great looks and low volume exclusivity.

“We get feedback from Tiburon drivers who often report admirers of their car being surprised to learn it’s a Hyundai. It’s definitely the style leader in our stable and one of the best sculptured in the Sports Car segment, with go as well as show,” he said.

Design

‘Tiburon’ means shark in Spanish, appropriately evocative of the car’s sleek, sharp-edged design with its fluted flanks and purposeful profile.

Design detail highlights include scalloped upper sides leading to the ‘gills’ in the front fenders, flared lower sides which give an integrated side skirt look, clear blister headlight lens, a racecar-look fuel filler and twin fat sports exhausts.

Inside, Hyundai’s German and Korean design studios complemented the striking exterior with some cabin fashion elements and attention to detail.

Contrasting with the charcoal theme interior are brushed alloy highlights on the centre dash panel, door switchgear panels, steering wheel, auto gearshift knob and (with rubber inserts) the pedals and the driver’s left foot rest. Instrumentation lighting is an orange-red glow.

Both front seats are sports type with deep side bolstering and correct anatomical cushion contouring for maximum enjoyment of Tiburon’s exhilarating handling. The driver’s seat adjusts for tilt, height and lumbar support, the front passenger seat has a flip forward memory return to its pre-set position and the two rear seat backs have a 50/50 split/fold function.

Performance

Tiburon is Hyundai’s first six cylinder sports car and also its first car with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Tiburon’s 2.7 litre all-alloy twin-cam ‘Delta’ V6 delivers up to 127kW of power at 6000rpm, maximum torque of 245Nm at 4000rpm. The manual can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and 0-400 metres in 15.8 seconds.

Tiburon V6’s six-speed transmission sports ratios quite closely spaced to deliver an agreeably progressive rate of acceleration.

Despite its performance credentials, Tiburon V6 is still fuel efficient, with the V6 automatic using just 7.0 litres/100km of 91 RON ULP on the standard AS2877 test highway cycle and 11.0 around town, while the more performance-geared six-speed manual uses 7.6 and 11.5 l/100km respectively.

Dynamics

Tiburon’s all-independent suspension is tuned for handling and agility appropriate for sports driving and includes premium German Sachs gas dampers and plenty of noise suppression elements to ensure a quiet ride.

Steering is direct with just 2.6 turns lock-to-lock for a 10.88 m turning circle between kerbs and wheel feel is sharp via increased caster, optimized geometry and linking the front stabilizer bar outer ends to the upper strut body rather than onto the lower control arms.

Tiburon build quality and engineering integrity is evidenced by Hyundai’s industry-best factory new car warranty of five years or 130,000km, as with all its other Hyundai stablemates.

*plus on-road costs