By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

When the 2003 Tiburon came out, a lot of people noticed the not-so-subtle Ferrari 456 styling cues. Well, the folks at Galatea were inspired to develop a body kit to further enhance the “exotic look” of the humble FWD sport coupe. From the Galatea site:

The styling of the Hyundai’s midsection from the side view appears to be inspired most by other expensive Italian coupes. The Hyundai has the right design genes to look more like an expensive exotic car. The goal of the Galatea kit was to develop the exotic look even further, without giving the appearance of a car with a body kit. The lines of the new kit blend with the doors and roof for an overall design unity. This makes it look more like a new car, instead of a car that has been modified.

The kit, which includes front and rear end fiberglass parts, lights and hardware, runs $5,180. The car you see below was built for approximately $16,000, which includes the purchase price of the used Tiburon and new wheels. Worth it? What do you think? Galatea via Autoblog

By Matt Wellumson

Neuwerks

These shots were taken by a co-worker during what would normally be a quiet Saturday at the office. The story behind it was, the young driver was involved in a heated text conversation, while parking her car in the open space in the foreground. What doesn’t make sense, is the fact that her car drove over the curb, through a fence, and onto someone’s new Ford Fusion. Thankfully nobody was hurt, and hopefully she puts down her phone next time she parks!

More photos after the jump!

Continue reading "Hyundai Parking In-Fusion" »

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Today’s pic is from Carlos’s Hyundai Genesis Coupe ride page!

By Katherine Helmetag

Atomicalex

Brenda Priddy, the ranking goddess of automotive spy photography, has some pretty intense love/hate relationships with research and development engineers around the world thanks to her ability to snap their handiwork before it’s ready for prime time. She’s been sneaking around the desert for the last few weeks, chasing summer and hot weather testing teams. I think the Hyundai peeps like her. The question here is who spotted who first?

Thanks to Brenda for lending us the photo!

By Karan Singh

StreetFire.net

Rhys Millen will attempt to beat his own world record of 12 minutes, 9 seconds at Pike’s Peak this year in the PM580 Pike’s Peak Hyundai. This 1,850 pound, 750 horse power V6 beast is designed specifically to conquer the 156 turns to the top.

Rhys Millen’s 750 HP is bred to break Pike’s Peak

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

A few days ago Porsche rightly snubbed Mini after Mini challenged them to a race. Well, now Hyundai has jumped into the mix and has challenged Mini to a race. This I want to see.

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Daniel’s ride page has it all–great pics, great documentation and a great ride! Check it out!

By Sam Barer

Sound Classics

I wrote here a few months ago about my wife’s decision to replace her 1998 Olds Intrigue. I detailed my grand plan to give her the 2006 Toyota Avalon while I procured myself a slightly used Mercedes S550 as a new daily driver.

The interesting thing about the Mercedes S550 is that, without expensive and rarely-equipped options, it offers fewer bells and whistles than a minivan of half the price. Consequently, it was near impossible to find one with adaptive laser-guided cruise control and a back-up camera, at least one with a reasonable number of miles that wasn’t being sold by a dealer at a typical narcotics kingpin’s profit margin. I did finally find a low-mileds 2008 S600 (the model with all the bells and whistles as standard, powered by the fire-breathing bi-turbo V12 and usually purchased new by professional athletes and CEOs) offered at a sell-it-today price of $72,000, but getting it to my door and licensing it would have put it at $80,000. Still, at nine in the morning on one beautiful day I had the deal ready to go.

It’s funny how spouses have the ability to bring us back to ground-level. My wife reminded me that no matter how far under-value I could buy the S600, I was making a poor financial decision. She also pointed to the other cars in the garage and asked if I really needed another expensive car for myself. This was the point when I again got to swallow hard and use my signature line “you’re right, I’m wrong, I’m sorry, I’ll change!”

It had taken me months to get to nearly buying the S600, but thanks to my wife’s decisive nature, by 5pm that night she was at Titus-Will Hyundai signing for a brand new 2010 Genesis 4.6 Sedan–for her! A Hyundai? On my property? What the hell?

Continue reading "Heaven, Hell or Hyundai" »

By Jim Brennan

UDMan

Hyundai introduced the North American version of its full-size Equus. It’s very nice and all, but they did away with the home market hood ornament. More pics below the jump…

Continue reading "NYIAS: Hyundai Equus–The Budget Executive Limousine" »

By Jim Brennan

UDMan

Today Hyundai introduced a pair of Sonata Sedans, and with Toyota’s troubles, could this be the car that surpasses the Camry?

Continue reading "NYIAS: Hyundai Sonata 2.0T and Hybrid Poised to Pass the Camry!" »