2003 Hyundai Tiburon Road Test

2003 Hyundai Tiburon - Substance in Sin City

Las Vegas, with its architectural facades, glitz, glamour and bright lights isn't exactly known for delivering much substance behind its style, which is in sharp contrast to the car that would receive its official Canadian press launch there, the all-new Hyundai Tiburon coupe. That said access to a world class racing facility only minutes away from the downtown core combined with Nevada's dry weather conditions complimented the occasion perfectly.

I arrived at Las Vegas motor speedway to see a row of samba red, arctic silver, ebony black and dark carbon blue Tiburon GT and GS-R's lined up to show off their aggressive new duds. "This isn't a re-skin," said Brian Kim, Hyundai Canada's manager of product and strategic planning, "it's a completely new design, from its projector headlamps to its dual exhaust." Gone are the radical swoops and curves of the old model, replaced with angular creases and folds. While its menacing front fascia and athletic rear quarters stir the soul, its most intriguing design details are the shark gill-like side vents just aft of the front wheel arches.