NEWS
Hyundai to build new sports car?
Departing Hyundai chief says the Korean company is maintaining an active interest in new global sports carIs the mid-engine PassoCorto concept revealed this year at the Geneva motor show a source of inspiration for a new Hyundai sports car?
Following the unveiling of the mid-engine PassoCorto concept at this year's Geneva motor show, rumours are circulating that Hyundai is looking seriously at new small sports car for the international market.
Whether this would be the light and compact PassoCorto is unknown, but a report published recently in British magazine Autocar suggests the Korean company believes there is a potential market for a new sports car in Europe that could be promoted by its newly-created N performance division.
The 1.6-litre twin-turbo petrol four-cylinder PassoCorto two-seater was designed as a collaborative effort with Pininfarina's head designer Luca Borgogno and a team of students from the Instituto Europeo di Design, and the Hyundai Design Centre Europe.
Aimed at the Gen Y market (people born during the 1980s and early 1990s) it is around 100mm shorter than a Toyota 86 and, with its anticipated light weight and mid-engine configuration, has the potential to re-set the benchmark for small sports car handling. The PassoCorto has a claimed power output of 199kW.
At its Geneva unveiling, the two-seat coupe was described as "A fascinating glimpse at what a mid-engined, lightweight Hyundai sports car might look like in the future".
Hyundai's European MD Allan Rushforth, who is leaving the company to take up a senior role at Nissan, is said to have confirmed it believes there is a place for a new Hyundai sports car on the world market.
Rushforth is reported to have indicated a new car would not follow in the steps of the Veloster coupe. This is largely because of the nature of niche vehicle sales, in which initial demand flares, and then dies off once the market is sated. He also cited the tendency of niche vehicle owners to lose interest in continuing with the theme at changeover time.
The sports car market trended upwards in Australia during 2013 with total sales of 25,337 compared to 21,437 in 2012 and 14,750 in 2011. That would have been due in no small part to the introduction of the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ twins.
Is a serious, light weight Hyundai sports car on the cards for the not so distant future?
Watch this space.
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Written byCarsales Staff
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If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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