Besides the socks-less white espadrille fashion statement of Sonny Crocket, everyone remembers, “Miami Vice” for the Ferrari Testarossa—in fact, it got a higher billing than Sonny Crocket’s partner, whose name got lost in serial history. It was the only thing people tuned in to see, and probably the only reason why the show became so popular in the first place. Of course, folks playing the “Planet Hollywood” board game would know that the Testarossa only made headlines from the second season onwards. For the first season, Don Johnson’s character proved that organized crime doesn’t pay with the help of his Ferrari Daytona. Only, it wasn’t a Ferrari Daytona. It was a replica. And, people didn’t seem care—it was way cooler than TJ Hooker’s police cruiser. It was the centerpiece of bedroom walls, including the one this author with his older brother. It was the Daytona that grabbed the attention, including Ferrari’s, and it’s the reason they got a real Testarossa later.
It becomes clear that when it comes to ‘cool’, looks reign supreme. Cars like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Nissan Skyline, Subaru Impreza, et. al may win the imagination of “Gran Turismo” addicts everywhere, but they still look like souped-up pieces of appliance to the common folk. Oh sure, the Skyline rockets to a zillion km/h in milliseconds, but they don’t look doing it. Try getting the last valet slot with your Impreza, and chances are, you won’t. Shaving off precious seconds on the quarter-mile seems affordable compared to getting jaw-dropping good looks. There’s a solution to this dilemma though, and it comes from a rather unexpected source: Hyundai. Yes, that’s right, Hyundai.
From the company that brings you the ever-reliable and dependable Starex family van comes the Hyundai Coupe—a car that gets all the sporty coupe ingredients right without overcooking them into mush. For starters, there’s the sexy body, as in Italian sexy. The slick lines create an impression of speed even when standing still. The detailing is impeccable with properly filled wheel arches, reciprocating headlamp and tail lamp combinations, and even a faux allen-screw type fuel cap. The shark gill side openings, twin exhaust pipes, and standard sports appearance kit (on the FX) makes the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti look downright plain. Though minor, more careful placement of the rear reflectors and rear washer should have been done as not to ruin the striking lines of the Coupe—maybe that’s something they ought to do if there’s a facelift.
One thing that need not be changed is the Coupe’s interior. The 2-door body style and low ceiling should make it clear that it isn’t a practical car. But the hair messing ingress is a small price to pay for the Coupe’s racy snug-fit interior that fits one like a tan-colored glove. The color reference denotes the car’s 2-tone tan/black interior that does a good Audi TT impression. Meanwhile, the general driver interface resembles that of the Nissan 350Z down to the 3-dial auxiliary gauges. That said, it easily equals any Japanese car in terms of ergonomics and control placement. The ventilation controls are easy to decipher, while the gear selector and handbrake remain in close proximity. The seating is spot on with ample adjustment. Of course, the vestigial rear seats are a different matter with the Coupe’s ultra-low ceiling. In addition, the rear hatch poses a real danger of inflicting head injuries to the rear passengers when slamming it shut.
The materials used in the Coupe are mixed, but it feels well screwed together overall. The leather is top notch, as are the metallic accents and the dash. However, the door handles and the audio controls need more improvement. Still, you have to give credit to Hyundai for plopping in a superb 6-speaker sound system.
Speaking of sound systems, the best one is actually located in front of the driver. The 140 horsepower engine sounds muscular and refined. Car-philes would be pleased to know that this Mitsubishi-sourced power plant is the same one that’s found in the Lancer Evolution sans hardened parts and the turbocharger. The 4-speed automatic is the same one found in the Evolution GT-A complete with the manual shift override feature. As a driver’s package, the components work well in unison providing a spirited experience without any sort of discomfort.
The linear performance is complimented by how it handles the twisty roads. The well-sorted chassis offer crisp handling with good driver feedback. That said, the sporty orientation of the car means that comfort plays second fiddle. The Coupe exhibits a very stiff ride. And unlike the stiffness, of say, the BMW Z4, the Coupe soaks up all sorts of humps, bumps, and ruts. It continuously shocks the driver when going over road joints. A trip from Ortigas to Alabang can prove to be torturous if your pain threshold proves to be too low.
Still, as you get out in Alabang, you can’t help but realize that the Hyundai Coupe is one good car. And unlike other Korean cars, which rely on kitchen sink kit and warranty to sell, the Coupe can genuinely count on pure driving excitement and good looks as its trump cars. It may not be the most practical choice out there, but it’s one of the perfect weekend getaway cars out there. People say that the Hyundai Coupe is the best thing to come out of Korea ever. And it is. In fact, it’s one of the best automotive surprises in the past decade.
By Ulysses Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang
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