Underwhelming Wednesday: Hyundai Tiburon

As of the last four or five years, Hyundai has been noticeably improving their standing in the world car market. With sporty offerings like the Genesis Coupe and the upcoming Veloster, both employing optional turbocharged engines, it's hard to deny their attempts at grabbing the sport compact market. They also have legitimate luxury cars, with the Genesis Sedan doing markedly well against it's considerably more expensive competitors. However, in the mid 1990's when Hyundai decided it was time to step up their game, their initial product had little sport and very little luxury. The Tiburon was undeniably not an asset to the Hyundai lineup.

Introduced in 1996, the Tiburon sported two engine choices, the 1.8 liter four cylinder from the Elantra, making 130 horsepower to the crank, or the higher performance 2.0 liter with a modest increase to 137 horsepower, both turning the front wheels. If a buyer was keen to go fast, obviously they would choose the two liter which would net them blistering performance numbers such as 8.3 seconds to 60 miles per hour and a top speed of 125. Not to fear though, in 2003, they gave the car a much needed update. They added an optional V6 (2.7 liters of fury!) and a six speed manual transmission (only available on the SE model, not the GT model?) and things got a touch better. Only a touch though, if I'm honest. Performance numbers still weren't great, with most publications finding it took 7.2 seconds to get to 60 MPH and attaining a top speed of 135. One would expect slightly better numbers considering it wasn't a particularly heavy car and it had a six speed manual mated up to a V6, but then we have to realize that the output of that V6 was less than impressive. 170 horsepower from a 2.7 liter engine is not competitive in today's sport compact market, nor was it any good back then.

Hyundai ended production in 2008 to make room for their rear wheel drive turbo Genesis, and it wasn't a second too late. The Tiburon did little as anything besides a commuter car and for something that is designated as a sports car, there is no greater insult.

Event Coverage: Xtreme Drift Circuit Dallas 2011

Back in September, The Xtreme Drift Circuit finished out their finals here in the great state of Texas at Texas Motor Speedway and our staff photog Chase Riggs was on site to get some of the action as well as the car show that was being conducted at the same time (and if you keep your eyes peeled there might even be some of the car models)...

So click play and enjoy!!!

Staff Bio: Chase Riggs

Let me first start by saying Chase Riggs is a rad dude. Now that could be the end of this entire bio and you could walk away from it with that simple and to the point sentence, knowing all you would need. However, let's say you see him in the wild of a social environment. What do you do? What do you say? Keep reading and pay attention, hell, even take notes if you have to. Chase Riggs is a regular contributor for us here at ATTNTS writing the Underwhelming Wednesday segments and supplying photos for our Need To Stop trends as well as snapping pictures at events for so you guys don't actually have to go to the event yourself. He currently owns a 94 Tercel with a 4E-FTE engine swap. It's pretty quick and gets a damn good 40+ mpg (take that hybrids)! He also owns a 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 that he is just mere days away from finishing his restoration on. He enjoys drifting and gets a stiffy for Hakosuka GT-R's. So if you see him walking around give him a thumbs up and tell him to finish his Galant (ladies, give him your phone number!)

Good Friday: Hardtops On Convertibles

When you think convertible, you get the sense of being out in the open with the elements, wind blowing through your hair, and the sun beaming on your skin. All that is about to change, and I like it. The trend starting up just recently is now replacing your soft convertible top with a solid hardtop, converting your weekend warrior into a fighter jet. Most common examples of this trend are the Honda S2000 and of course, Mazda Miata which we have pictures of both listed below. All of the hardtops I have had the pleasure of being in both before and after, seem to transform the vehicle into a more aggressive, more solid of a vehicle, ready to take on any track day you can throw at it. And for that, live on hardtops on covertibles!

Truck Thursday: Corvette Bumpers

Today is Truck Thursday, which is the portion of the program where we cover truck-related trends that seem to only be applicable to them (lord save us if they jump to cars). For some odd reason, owners of older style Chevrolet trucks like to swap out their rear bumper for a Corvette bumper. I do not know how it works because I refuse to even get close enough to one to see, but this has to stop. If you are one of said owners, please contact me so we can talk about why on earth you would do such a thing. Do they think it makes it look cool? Or fast? Or furious? (Sorry, I had to). Once again we have people wasting money on pointless things. Most of the Corvette bumper conversions I have seen do not fit correctly, one side sags way more than the other. Is this because it isn't supposed to go on there at all? Whoever knows, please respond because this trend is driving me crazy! Please, please stop this horrible trend.

Underwhelming Wednesday: Subaru SVX

The Underwhelming Wednesday segment is where we cover cars that just didn't quite live up to their hype and investment. When you think of Subarus today, what comes to mind? Love it or hate it engine layout? Exceptional AWD systems? Ability to conquer any kind of terrain? All of these fun features and good qualities had to start somewhere right? Unfortunately for all involved, they didn't start with my underwhelming pick of the week, the Subaru SVX.

Let's run some numbers. 3.3 liters of displacement. Four overhead camshafts. 231 horsepower. 228 torques. Four driven wheels. Not bad right? Let's look at some more numbers. Four speed automatic transmission. 3,580 lb curb weight. Nearly eight seconds to 60 mph. Things are starting to get a bit "meh" at this point. When this car was designed, Subaru didn't produce a manual transmission that could hold all the power that the flat six could put out so the only option available was a four speed slush box. Not exactly inspiring for those with rally aspirations. To make things worse, when it debuted in the states in 1992, the top of the line model listed for $28,000. For a Subaru. In 1992. With windows that didn't really open and a typical Subaru interior. There was certainly a lot of hype and comparisons to the 3000GT VR4 and even the Honda NSX, but the SVX never lived up to the expectations. After selling just 14,257 units in the United States, it was pulled from the market and killed off.

To be honest, and to stick with the theme, this was not a terrible car. It was as reliable as any Subaru from the era. It had a comfortable and stable ride and it even got about 24 mpg on the highway. It was innovative and had acceptable styling. But none of these things stirred the soul. Nothing about this car makes my insides tingly or makes me want to go drive just for the sake of driving. If it doesn't give you any of these feelings, what's the point?

What car do you think is most underwhelming?

Good Friday: Functional Fitment

Every Friday is Good Friday where we cover a trend or fad that needs to live on! There are plenty of great styles going on that add to the car culture. Today's topic is Functional Fitment. We love a good choice of wheels with a nice offset filling those wheel wells quite nice, however, do not tell us that your vehicle cannot take a turn over ten miles per hour because you are worried about rubbing or scratching your wheels because you have them set with outrageous camber. Keep it functional and clean. Live on Functional Fitment