Galatea's Hyundai Tiburon / Coupe brings Italy and Korea together, Results Questionable

"Long live the GK Tiburon!" has got to be the rallying cry of Galatea Automobiles, the company that's responsible for the creation of the Revision. Beneath the newly styled body - they're calling it a "kit car" - is a typical, everyday, underpowered second-gen Hyundai Tiburon coupe with leather, a V6 powerplant, and a sunroof.

The Revision is Galatea's masterpiece, showcasing its achievement of "designing a car that is both exclusive and beautiful, without the associated expenses of owning an exotic car."

The Revision was penned by Robert Fechtmann with the intent of emulating Italian style for a steal: $5,180. For the five g's, owners will get the new lights, hood, fenders, bumpers, and installation guide.All told, it should cost around $16,000 to build; in my opinion, that's about $16,000 too much to invest in an old Hyundai.

Regarding the car's hit-and-miss looks, Galatea says, "[The Revision] is more likely to be mistaken as an elegant and expensive factory car instead of being recognized as an inexpensive modified car."

So, how do we vote: fugly Hyundai or bottom-dollar exotic?

By Phil Alex

Link: Galatea

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Desert Drifting a Sonata: Knowing When to Stop is a Sign of Wisdom...

What happens when you live in / near the desert and have a bunch of money to waste? Cars get destroyed, that's what. Here's a small clip of somebody taking their Hyundai Sonata out for a little slideways action and utterly shredding the rear passenger side. I'd venture to say it's totaled, considering the rear wheels aren't meant to be pushed up into the wheel well like that.

Also, how fast do you have to be going to launch the spare tire out of the trunk? If anyone knows what event this was or what specifically was going on (other than putting that poor white Sonata into a mound of dirt), give us a shout.

By Phil Alex

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

A Tale of Two Hyundais Fighting Over a Third Hyundai...

Bear with us, as this could get very confusing. The Wall Street Journal is reporting the Hyundai that manufactures cars [aka the Hyundai Motor Group] and the Hyundai that builds ships and makes elevators [aka the Hyundai Group] are competing for a US$3 billion stake in the Hyundai that constructs buildings [aka the Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co.]

We warned you this could get confusing...

So here's the short version: Hyundai Motor Co and Hyundai Engineering & Construction used to be part of the Hyundai Group, South Korea's largest conglomerate. In the wake of the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis, the two companies split from the conglomerate and went their separate ways.

Hyundai Motor Co spun-off to become part of the Hyundai Motor Group and in 2001 Hyundai Engineering fell under creditor control after a multitrillion won bailout and a 2.9 trillion won ($2.54 billion) debt-for-equity swap. Now these creditors, which include the Korean Exchange Bank, are selling up their share 34.88% share in Hyundai Engineering.

Still with us? Good.

So the only links between these three companies now are familial: Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo is the second son of Hyundai Engineering founder Chung Ju-yung, and Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun is Chung Ju-Yung's daughter-in-law (that's her pictured on the right).

Hyundai Engineering also owns a 8.3% stake in Hyundai Merchant Marine, which is part of the Hyundai Group. This stake makes it an especially juicy proposition for both the Hyundai Group and Hyundai Motor Group.

Insiders have said that so far Hyundai Group and Hyundai Motor Group are the only ones to send in letters of interest. Analysts believe that Hyundai Motor Group has the best chance of winning the stake, as subsidiary Hyundai Motor Co alone has available capital to the tune of 7.28 trillion won (US$6.5 billion). This is over six times what the Hyundai Group has, forcing it to make a joint bid with German engineering firm M+W Group.

Formal bids for Hyundai Engineering are due by the 12th of November, with a preferred bidder set to be chosen in December.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: WSJ

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0-liter Turbo with 274HP Priced from $24,865

The newest member of the 2011 Sonata family, the 2.0 Turbo model, will soon be hitting dealer lots across the States so Hyundai released pricing, which starts at $24,865 MSRP for the Sonata SE 2.0T and $27,765 for the Sonata Limited 2.0T, including a destination charge of $720.

The new 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit combines direct-injection tech with a twin-scroll turbocharger for a maximum output of 274 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 269 lb-ft of torque from 1750-4500 rpm with regular fuel, while delivering 22 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. The force-fed four-banger is hooked up to a standard 6-speed automatic with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.

The base Sonata SE 2.0T comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, a sportier tuned suspension and steering system, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, fog lights CD/MP3 audio system with iPod/USB and Aux input jacks, traction control and automatic air conditioning as standard.

The Limited model deletes the sportier tuned suspension and steering system but adds several features including power tilt and slide sunroof, leather seats, and heated front seats with heated rear seat bottom cushions. More details on the equipment grades in the list below.

[From Hyundai press release]:

Sonata SE 2.0T

2.0L Turbo GDI 4-cylinder engine
6-speed automatic with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters
18-inch Hyper Silver alloy wheels with performance tires
Sport-tuned suspension and steering
Dark chrome front grille
Chrome exterior door handles
Proximity entry with push button start
SE leather bolster/cloth insert sport seats
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
Front fog lights / dual exhaust
Dual automatic temperature control
ESC/TCS/ABS/TPMS
Front active head restraints
Front, front seat side and curtain airbags
Chrome window belt-line moldings
Tilt and telescopic steering wheel with cruise, audio and phone controls
Metalgrain interior accents
AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 with iPod/USB and Aux input jacks
Remote keyless entry and alarm
Immobilizer
Power windows, locks, heated mirrors
Advanced trip computer with custom settings
Active ECO System
Integrated Bluetooth with phonebook transfer
Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
Solar control glass

Navigation and Sunroof Package

Power tilt and slide sunroof
Navigation system with high-resolution touch-screen display
Dimension premium speakers, subwoofer/external amplifier

Sonata Limited 2.0T

Replaces/Adds/Deletes SE 2.0T equipment:

Power tilt and slide sunroof
Side mirror turn signal indicators
Leather seating surfaces
Heated front seats with heated rear seat bottom cushions
Floor console mounted rear vents
Premium door sill plates / "Limited" badge
In-dash 6-disc CD-changer
HD Radio technology with multicasting
Dimension premium speakers, subwoofer/external amplifier
Unique interior accents (Piano Black or Woodgrain)
Auto-dimming mirror/HomeLink/compass
Deletes sport-tuned suspension and steering

Navigation Package

Navigation system with high-resolution touch-screen display
Rear backup camera
Infinity premium speakers, subwoofer/external amplifier
Deletes 6-disc CD-changer and HD Radio Technology

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________