IF there is one car that stands out in the busy Hyundai showroom, it is the coup.
Good-looking, vibrant colours and an overall cracking car that beats Toyota's Celica and even the Audi TT when it comes to sales figures. This country is, in fact, the biggest market for the coup in Europe
There are five models in the range, including a mix of engines, and manual and automatics, with prices starting from £14,795.
Now the attention-grabbing car has been given a facelift, fortunately one that has not required too much Botox.
There are redesigned front headlamps, a nice looking front air intake, and front bumper and fog lamps, while at the back end there are new rear light clusters. New door mirrors have also been fitted.
A bit of side panel design, between front wheel and doors, is something the marketing chappies at Hyundai call "shark gills"; they give the car a more sporty look, but actually serve no other purpose than to break up the design line and are just pure decoration.
There have been changes made inside, too, including a lighter coloured headlining, improved overhead console and some extra chrome touches.
The entry-level 103bhp 1.6-litre S model has been given a new leather-trimmed cloth interior.
Seventeen-inch alloy wheels, as seen up to now on the 2.7-litre V6, are fitted on to the 1975cc 2.0-litre SE model, while the 2.7-litre gets 17-inch lightweight forged alloy wheels.
Fortunately, performance remains impressive: the 1.6-litre can cover the 0-62mph sprint in 11.9-seconds, while the 141bhp 2.0-litre SE clocks 9.3-seconds. The range-topping 2.7-litre V6, producing 165bhp, knocks a second off taking just 8.3-seconds.
Prices start at £14,795 for the 1.6-litre S, rising to £16,795 for the 2.0-litre SE manual and to £17,795 for the automatic, while the 2.7-litre V6 manual is £18,795 and the automatic £19,795.
In common with the rest of the Hyundai range, the coupe comes with the company's pioneering five-year, unlimited mileage, warranty, which is also transferable when it comes to selling the car on.
There is a sales incentive open until the end of March: free insurance with the 1.6-litre S for up to three named drivers aged 25 to 65.
Dealer: York Hyundai, Great Northway, Nether Poppleton, York (01904 600600)
Updated: 11:49 Friday, February 11, 2005
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