Hyundai’s Sports Car Tiburon
Transforms into an Off-Road Rally Car
With a Toyota Badge?
Hyundai’s once-iconic sports car, the Tiburon, has resurfaced unexpectedly—transformed into a rally car bearing the Toyota emblem. Originally a two-door sports coupe, the Tiburon was a standout model during an era when South Korean sports cars were scarce. It served as a predecessor to the Scoupe and laid the groundwork for the Tuscani and Genesis Coupe, making it a significant player in automotive history.
This revived Tiburon, modified overseas, has caught the attention of car enthusiasts. The most striking change? The Hyundai badge was removed and replaced with that of Toyota. This conversion into a rally car has sparked curiosity about the modifications and features of this unique vehicle.
Czech Tiburon owner tuned his Tiburon
Adam Rejl, a car enthusiast from the Czech Republic, showcased his modified Tiburon at the GumBalkan Rally. Participants buy cars for around $1,120 in this event and compete in off-road racing. This rally culture allows for creative tuning of budget-friendly vehicles, and Rejl has taken the Tiburon and reimagined it as Toyota’s legendary rally car, the Celica.
Significant exterior modifications highlight the car’s new identity, featuring a rally-inspired paint job and off-road styling. DIY wing extensions add to the racing aesthetic, while a practical roof box enhances its utility.
Off-road style and roof box
While the changes are visually striking, they go deeper. Rejl ingeniously filled the Tiburon’s springs with tennis balls to achieve the elevated stance characteristic of rally cars, raising the ride height by over two inches. He humorously dubbed this modification the “Wimbledon Package,” which elevates the vehicle and provides a springy ride.
Rejl swapped out the tires to further enhance off-road capability and added two spare tires on the rear deck. The vehicle is equipped with underbody protection, allowing it to tackle rough terrain confidently. This transformation of a decades-old South Korean sports car is nothing short of remarkable.
Easily over 200,000 km(124,274 miles) of driving range
The Tiburon is powered by a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that produces 113 horsepower. While it lacks an all-wheel-drive system, power is transmitted to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. The vehicle boasts an impressive driving range of 245,000 km (152,236 miles), showcasing its durability over the years.
Despite the Toyota badge, enthusiasts recognize this unique vehicle as a Tiburon. The nostalgic revival of a beloved South Korean model, once thought to be forgotten, has garnered positive attention among fans back home.
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