2018 Hyundai Tiburon / Coupé / Tuscani

For this post I'm sharing my idea of what a 2018 Hyundai Tiburon would look like. The Tiburon was a budget 2+2 sports-coupé sold from 1996 to 2009. The name comes from the Spanish for 'shark'. The images show the Euro-spec 'Coupé'-badged version, but like its predecessors it would be badged 'Tiburon', 'Coupé', or 'Tuscani', depending on the market. 

Also in keeping with its predecessors, it would be based on the contemporary Elantra/Avante's front-wheel drive platform. It would be positioned as the bigger brother to the Veloster in the Korean manufacturer's lineup.

The styling adheres to Hyundai's latest 'Fluidic Sculpture 2.0' design language, and offers extensive customisation options - including two-tone paint with contrasting roof. The photograph above shows the car in Olympian Blue, but some other colour options can be seen below.

Maroon Red with Black roof option

Storm Grey with Velvet Red roof option

Porsche 518 Kaplan

Porsche 518 Kaplan is a new two-seater sports car positioned as a rival to the Mazda MX-5 and Toyota GT86. The 518 nomenclature places the Kaplan firmly below the 718 Boxster and 918 Spyder in the Porsche hierarchy. The 'Kaplan' suffix comes from the Turkish for 'tiger', just as 'Macan' is the Indonesian word for tiger. The name ends with an 'an' sound, just like the Macan and the Cayman.

Aesthetically, it's more square than the Boxster, and draws visual comparisons with the 914. Like the 914, the Kaplan features a targa-top, in this case one with an electric folding roof mechanism. The wheels are pushed to the corners of the car, with short overhangs at both ends. The vents sculpted into the sides of the car feed a naturally-aspirated flat-four, which sits just ahead of the rear wheels.

Peugeot 108 GTi

Taking inspiration from the beloved 205 GTi of the 1980s, the Peugeot 108 GTi is a pocket rocket and material proof that fun comes in small sizes. It's not the only car in its class — with Renault, VW and Fiat each fielding their own competitors in the micro-hot hatch category — but it hopes to be the best. 

Compared to the standard 108, the GTi version boasts wider tyres, beefier brakes, and stiffer springs all round. Power is boosted to 115bhp, which, in a car weighing only a tonne, is more than sufficient to have a bit of fun with. 

Visual upgrades include the sporty black alloys, rear spoiler, check-patterned front grills and, of course, the racy new bodykit. The car pictured sports the optional ‘Coupe Franche’ two-tone paint job. La subtilité est très passé.

Tesla Model R

This is my vision for a Tesla Model R. It would be the first Tesla sports car since the Roadster, and fill much the same space in the Tesla lineup. Instead of the Roadster's targa top, however, the Model R would have a standard hard-top.

The front end of the car features an evolution of the new Tesla face which made its debut on the Model C prototype. The Model R features slippery aerodynamic bodywork and a low kerbweight, which each benefit the Model R in a couple of different ways - by making the car more energy efficient, and by improving straight-line speed.

And if straight-line speed is what you're after, the R's 'Ludicrous Mode' will surely appeal. First made available in the Model S saloon, Ludicrous Mode enables the Model R to reach 60mph from standstill in 2.4 seconds, a figure unmatched by any other production car.

Mercedes CLC

 Version 1:

Version 2:

The CLC is a four-door coupé based on the Mercedes C-Class - a sort of halfway house between the C-Class saloon and the C-Class Coupé. The name follows Merc's new naming scheme - a 'CL' prefix signifies a four-door coupé, and the 'C' suffix represents the size class of the car.

Couldn't decide which window-line I preferred so I thought I'd post both versions and let you decide.

Honda Integra Type-S

The successor to the cult-classic Honda Integra is finally here in its 5th generation after a decade's absence. The Integra is a sports-coupé designed to appeal to keen drivers and imbue some youthful energy into the soulless Honda line-up.

Like previous Integras, the latest generation of the car will be based on the front-engine, front-drive platform of the contemporary Honda Civic. As well as the standard car, there is a sportier Type-S model (shown), and a range-topping Type-R model.

The styling of the car is uniquely Japanese. The front end is low and dominated by a large V-shaped grill. The side of the car is angular and futuristic, with a rising waistline leading up to NSX-style flying buttresses for the C-pillars and a floating roof.

Swagger Jaguar

The J-Type Jag would be the big brother to the F-Type, and rival to the Porsche 911, Mercedes-AMG GT, and Audi R8. It would be positioned as a sports/muscle car rather than a GT car like the discontinued XK.

Design-wise, the J-Type is roughly halfway between classic Jaguar and modern Jaguar - long and low, with a three-box shape, but also detailed with contemporary Jag design cues. There are no rear seats, so unlike many in its class the J-Type is a strict two-seater and doesn't pretend to have room for four.

The car would receive a ∼500bhp V8 shared with the next-gen Jag XJ, which would power the rear wheels.

Vauxhall Olympia B

Olympia was a name used in the 60s for a fastback coupé version of the contemporary Opel Kadett, which was the equivalent of today's Astra. Fitting then, that this name should be revived for a fastback coupé based on the Astra's platform.

Following the decline of the traditional two-door coupé market, I've decided to give the modern Olympia a trendy four-door coupé silhouette. It also marks a return of the pillar-less hardtop - a body-style which was common on 20th-century American and Japanese cars, but is now (I think, correct me if I'm wrong) extinct in four-door cars.

It would be sold as a Vauxhall, Opel or Buick, depending on the market.