Tiburon's aggressive, muscular styling is backed up by a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter engine, a fully independent sports suspension and optional four-wheel antilock disc brakes. The smaller 130-horsepower engine offered last year has been dropped, yet the price of the base Tiburon was increased by just $100; most racers would be overjoyed to pay just $10 a horse.

Launched as a totally new model last year, the Tiburon is loosely based on Hyundai's Elantra sedan. The Tiburon is fun to drive, offering good handling, brisk acceleration performance and construction quality comparable to other vehicles in its class.

Two models are available, both with power steering and power windows. The $14,014 Tiburon is equipped with rear drum brakes and 14-inch wheels; however, a $1,383 package is needed by most folks to add air conditioning and a cassette stereo, which brings the total to a still reasonable $15,397.

The $15,314 Tiburon FX comes standard with rear disc brakes, 15-inch alloy wheels, a spoiler and fog lights, but air conditioning, cruise control and a stereo bring the total to $16,897.

Even with the options packages, those prices are very attractive when measured against the Mitsubishi Eclipse RS, Toyota Celica ST and Nissan 200SX SE-R. Among the primary competitors, only the Pontiac Sunfire GT Coupe is less expensive than the Tiburon FX.

The FX is distinguished from the base Tiburon by its rear spoiler, fog lights and alloy wheels, but for $1,000, those items can be added to the base model.