Convertable Hyundai Coupe
December 2003
Ever since the release of the popular 1st generation Hyundai Coupe, people have been
asking when Hyundai are going to make a cabriolet version.
Its taken a few years, but now the concept pictures have been released showing
the convertible gen3 Hyundai Coupe. Slightly different from the usual folding metal
roof, Hyundai have come up with a rather unique sliding glass roof, which
elegantly folds down into a space in front of the boot. The reknowned cramped
rear seats have gone to make way for the roof storage.
Unfortunately this mechanical greenhouse is not due onto the market until 2007,
by which time many other car manufacturers will have surpassed the Hyundai
design with their own.
Below is more detail on the Cabrio, from Hyundai UK's website -
Hyundai's Coupe Cabriolet is heading our way!
"Following an overwhelming public response, Hyundai is delighted to announce its stunning CCS concept car will be developed to go into production.
It was revealed at the Bologna Motor Show last week that the company's most desirable concept car to date is destined for the showroom before 2007.
Based on Hyundai's acclaimed third generation Coupe, the production version of the CCS - Coupe Concept Study - will have a unique roof mechanism engineered by industry experts, Karmann.
This system will allow the driver to transform the car from a glass-roofed Coupe to a sleek convertible at the touch of a switch. If weather conditions are changeable the driver can even opt for an intermediate configuration where the central glass panel slides beneath the rear window to give just a taste of wind-in-the-hair motoring.
The car was first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September - prompting a stack of e-mails from potential customers eager to buy the car.
This global response has led Hyundai to confirm a production schedule for the CCS.
Jim Campbell, Marketing Director for Hyundai Car (UK) Ltd, said: “The Coupe has proved to be a huge hit in the UK, and we are delighted the CCS will become a reality. We will bring a new dimension to the cabriolet market, adding real value-for-money to soft-top motoring."
Note to editors: Hyundai Car (UK) Ltd has sold more 4,598 Coupes in the first 11 months of this year. The UK is the biggest European export market for the Coupe.
The current Coupe went on sale in January 2002. Prices start at £14,495 for the 1.6 S.
Karmann are based in Osnabrück in Germany, and have been established since 1901. It has more than 50 years experience of building convertible cars."
Hyundai Coupe goes topless in Frankfurt
Hyundai is set to unveil a real showstopper at the Frankfurt Motor Show next
week, with the first look of the breathtaking Hyundai CCS.
The CCS, which stands for Coupe Cabriolet Study, is the work of Hyundai's
Frankfurt-based Research and Development Centre and renowned convertible
specialists Karmann, and is based on Hyundai's popular Coupe 2+2.
The attraction of the CCS has to be its unique three-phase slide-and-fold roof
- at the touch of a button the driver can switch from a glass roof, to an open
roof to a full convertible.
If the weather is changeable, the driver can retract the glass sliding roof
back over the rear window (by going over the rear window, headroom is not
compromised) - the side supports remain in place so should the weather change,
the roof can slide back quickly into position.
Changing to a full convertible just requires the press of a second button which
folds in the rear screen, and retracts the roof in a way that still gives
maximum luggage space.
The folding roof system is an advance over previous convertible systems as it
requires fewer pivot points. Including all the hydraulic and electrical
components, the weight increase over the regular Coupe is just 140kg. Hyundai
believes solar panels could easily be worked into the structure of the CCS roof
design in the future.
While sharing the stylish look of the hardtop Coupe, the CCS features new 18
inch wheels with Michelin 225/40x18 tyres, as well as new front and rear light
clusters.
The interior has also received special treatment, with brown leather Recaro
seats, an eight way adjustment and a memory operation. The CCS also has an
excellent sound system - a 280W combination of Becker hardware linked to
Infinity speakers.
The usual problem with convertible cars - lack of boot space - does not apply
to the CCS. It has an impressive 443 litres of boot capacity with the roof
closed, 244 litres with it folded away.
The CCS uses a 2.7 litre V6 engine generating 165bhp@6000rpm, and a six-speed
Aichi gearbox - both seen in the popular current Coupe 2.7 V6.
Currently the CCS is a concept car, but if public reaction is favourable it
stands a realistic chance of making it into production.
Note to editors: Karmann are based in Osnabrück in Germany, and have been
established since 1901. It has more than 50 years experience of building
convertible cars.