but twenty-something drivers seem to have no trouble spotting this as one

of the newest sport coupes on the street, craning their necks for a better

look as they glide by on the freeway.

Styling is half the battle in this realm, and the Tiburon is a bold

entry into what is becoming an increasingly bland world of sport coupes.

Bulging fenders and sharp creases give Hyundai's new shark an aggressive

appearance. Frameless doors with flush-mounted glass and aerodynamic side

mirrors help minimize interior noise. Ellipsoid projector headlights are

stylish and also throw a sharply defined beam that minimizes glare to oncoming

cars, though the headlights in our FX test car seemed to be aimed too low.

In addition to the bigger engine, the FX gets nicer cloth upholstery,

plus full carpeting, a six-way adjustable driver's seat, a more elaborate

sound system, a lid for the center console, power door locks, power outside

mirrors and optional cruise control. The FX also comes with fog lamps integrated

into the standard front air dam that look good, though they don't seem

to lend much additional illumination.

Rumor has it that Porsche helped tune the suspension on the Tiburon,

something Hyundai will neither confirm nor deny. Be that as it may, the

Tiburon's unitbody is commendably stiff, a key element in ride quality

and handling. MacPherson struts are used for the front suspension, while

the rear is a dual link setup. The shock absorbers are gas-charged units,

which resist heat buildup, and there are anitroll bars fore and aft. All

the components are aimed at delivering the agile handling qualities we

expect from a sport coupe.

Both Tiburon models have disc brakes in front. The base model employs

drum brakes at the rear, while the FX gets rear discs. Disc brakes resist

fade better than drums, but only hard driving for extended periods reveals

much difference in performance. Four-channel antilock brakes are optional

on the FX, but only as part of an extra equipment package, the cheapest

of which ($3500) includes air conditioning, a power sunroof and a CD player.

The standard tires are P195/60 Michelin XGT H4 radials mounted on 14-inch

wheels (steel on the basic Tiburon, aluminum alloy on FX); 15-inch alloy

wheels with 195/55 Michelins are available for either model as an option.