Auto Channel

To replace Tiburon

These latest spy photos from Death Valley capture a prototype of a new Hyundai sports coupe as it undergoes hot weather testing. This new coupe will replace Hyundai’s current sports coupe, the Tiburon, but it is not yet known if Hyundai will choose to keep the Tiburon name, or give it a new name to emphasize its all-new model.

A major change from the current Tiburon, which is front wheel drive, is the new rear-wheel-drive trans in the coupe. It will likely also be larger, since the new coupe will be based on the same BH platform as Hyundai’s soon to be released large rear-wheel-drive sedan, the Genesis. While the current Tiburon offers a choice of a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder or a 2.7 liter V6, engines for the new coupe are likely to be quite different. Rumors abound about the possibility of a turbocharged 2.0 liter 4-cylinder with direct fuel injection. Also expected is a 3.8 liter V6, which will be the standard engine in the Genesis. A top performance model might even have the 4.6 liter V8 that will be optional in the Genesis, but this is unconfirmed.

The new coupe is expected to be launched next year.