Hyundai Scoupe

The Hyundai Scoupe, also called the Hyundai S-Coupe, is a 2-door coupé based on the contemporaneous Hyundai Excel. The name, a portmanteau of "sporty" and "coupe," was pronounced "scoop". In the UK and other countries it is known as an "S-Coupé".

Hyundai Scoupe
Overview
ManufacturerHyundai Motor Company
Production1988–1995
AssemblyUlsan, Korea
DesignerPark Jong-Seo[1]
Body and chassis
ClassSports car
Body style2-door coupe
LayoutFF layout
RelatedHyundai Excel (X2)
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,385 mm (93.9 in)
Length4,215 mm (165.9 in)
Width1,625 mm (64.0 in)
Height1,330 mm (52.4 in)
Chronology
SuccessorHyundai Tiburon

History
Original (1988–92)
Rear
Interior
Close-up of model badging and taillight

Development of what would become the Scoupe started in 1985. At the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show, Hyundai exhibited a prototype which was named the "Sports-looking Car" (SLC) concept.[2] Regular production began in February 1990; the Scoupe cost ₩521 billion to develop.[2] The Scoupe was introduced to the United States market for the 1991 model year at a base price of US$8,495 (equivalent to $18,300 in 2022), thousands less than comparable sporty coupes. The ambigram badging used an enlarged, stylized "S" followed by all-caps "COUPE".[3]

Facelift (1993–95)
Front view
Rear view

The naturally-aspirated Alpha was introduced in April 1991, followed by a turbocharged Alpha in October of that same year.[2] In the United States, additional changes came with the 1993 model year (July 1992),[2] when Scoupes got a facelift, including the current Hyundai stylized-"H" logo, new flush headlamps plus body-colored side moldings and redesigned front sheetmetal, taillights, and rear bumper. The Base and LS models were equipped with a new and improved, in-house manufactured, 1.5L 12-valve, direct-port fuel-injected engine, called Alpha.

The car was replaced by the Tiburon in 1996. When it was discontinued in 1995, the Scoupe was one of the last cars sold in the United States with motorized seat belts instead of airbags.[3] In total, 242,441 Scoupes were produced: 63,998 sold domestically in Korea and 178,443 produced for export.[2]

Scoupe Turbo

The Scoupe GT (LS Turbo in the USA) was Hyundai's first attempt at a sports car and featured South Korea's first domestically designed engine with a cast-iron block and crankshaft.[3][4] The engine contains an aluminum head, aluminum pistons and titanium connecting rods. A special compact heatproof ceramic combustion chamber design with central spark plug location was incorporated to optimize engine efficiency. The engine utilizes a Robert Bosch GmbH electronic engine control system and a knock sensor. Thanks to the turbocharging, the engine produces 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp).

The Turbo model can be distinguished externally by a black roof and "TURBO" badging on the rocker sills.[3] Rod Millen drove a modified Scoupe GT (Turbo) to victory in the Showroom Stock 2WD class at the 1992 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb event.[5][6][7]: 39 

In media

This car made an appearance on BBC's Top Gear Series 13 Episode 2 as Richard Hammond's car for the challenge where the presenters are finding the perfect car for a 17-year-old driver.

Preservation

Hyundai models of the late 1980s and early 1990s are almost impossible to find in preserved condition. As of 2021, very few Scoupes are believed to remain in use.[8] Several dedicated groups still exist, the main one being scoupetech found on Facebook. In Korea, the Sports Coupe Family (SCF) was the original Scoupe club, but is now defunct.[9]

One facelifted white Scoupe has been preserved and is on display at the Hyundai Namyang Research Institute's R&D History Hall.[2] Millen's Pikes Peak-winning 1992 Turbo has also been preserved.[2]

Design and specifications

As initially launched, the Scoupe was powered by an 81 hp (60 kW), 1.5L Mitsubishi-sourced 4G15 I4 engine (internally referred to as the Hyundai Sirius G4DJ engine), driving the front wheels via a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

The 4G15 was replaced in 1993 by the 1,495 cc Alpha, with a 75.5 mm (2.97 in) bore and an 83.5 mm (3.29 in) stroke. It was available both as a naturally aspirated engine and a turbocharged engine. The naturally aspirated version produced 92 hp (69 kW) at 5,500 rpm and 97 lb⋅ft (132 N⋅m) of torque at 4,000 rpm, with a 10:1 compression ratio, and the turbocharged version produced 115 hp (86 kW) at 5,500 rpm and 123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) of torque at 4,500 rpm, with a 7.5:1 compression ratio.[10] The naturally aspirated Alpha boasts a 14% increase in power over its 1.5L Mitsubishi-designed predecessor, and the turbo produces 42% more power. Turbos came only with 5-speed manual shift, while Base and LS models could have an optional 4-speed automatic.

Hyundai says the Scoupe was the first production application for Garrett Automotive Products' T15 turbocharger, which was new for the early 1990s. The turbo unit includes water-cooled bearings and housings and an integral wastegate.

Hyundai Scoupe/S-Coupe drivetrain summary
Model YearEngineOutput[3]TransmissionsConsumption (city/highway)
NameDispl.Valves PowerTorque 5-sp Manual4-sp Auto 5sp(M)4sp(A)
1989–92 Orion 4G15 / Sirius G4DJ 1,468 cc (89.6 cu in)8v 81 hp (60 kW)91 lb⋅ft (123 N⋅m) YesYes 26 / 34 mpg‑US (9.0 / 6.9 L/100 km)25 / 32 mpg‑US (9.4 / 7.4 L/100 km)
1993–95 Alpha G4EK 1,492 cc (91.0 cu in)12v 92 hp (69 kW)97 lb⋅ft (132 N⋅m) YesYes 28 / 36 mpg‑US (8.4 / 6.5 L/100 km)25 / 34 mpg‑US (9.4 / 6.9 L/100 km)
Alpha G4EK Turbo 115 hp (86 kW)123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) YesNo 27 / 33 mpg‑US (8.7 / 7.1 L/100 km)—

Performance
Scoupe Turbo, with cutaway hood

MotorWeek tested a base Scoupe in 1992 and timed the sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) at 11.9 seconds.[11]

The Australian spec S-Coupe GT Turbo has been road tested by several Australian magazines, returning times of 9.2-9.3 seconds for the 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) sprint and 16.8 seconds for 0–400 m (0–1⁄4 mi). Comparable times for the non-turbo version were approximately 12.5 seconds 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) with a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).[12]

The 1988–92 "Base" models with the 4G15/G4DJ achieved 26 / 34 mpg‑US (9.0 / 6.9 L/100 km) city/highway EPA fuel economy ratings when equipped with the manual transmission, and 25 / 32 mpg‑US (9.4 / 7.4 L/100 km) for the automatic.

For 1993 the Scoupe received a facelift and Hyundai's first internally-developed engine Alpha. The 1993-95 "Base" Alpha 1.5 engine models achieved 28 / 36 mpg‑US (8.4 / 6.5 L/100 km) when equipped with the manual transmission and 25 / 34 miles per US gallon (9.4 / 6.9 L/100 km) with the automatic. The GT, equipped with the Alpha Turbo, achieved 27 / 33 mpg‑US (8.7 / 7.1 L/100 km).

References
  1. Chung, Kyung-Won. "Hyundai Motor Company: Design Takes the Driver's Seat" (PDF). Design Management Institute. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  2. "Before N - 스쿠프 #1 - Before N - N - 고성능 N - TECH - 브랜드 스토리 - 브랜드 | 현대자동차". Hyundai (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  3. "1991-95 Hyundai Scoupe: The coupe scoop". Sport Compact Car. September 1999. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  4. Lee, Hyun Soon; Rho, Il Hyun (November 1989). The Design and Development of the Hyundai Alpha Engine. 5th International Pacific Conference on Automotive Engineering. Society of Automotive Engineering. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  5. 1992 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb Rod Millen's Hyundai Scoupe GT Showroom Class Victory on YouTube
  6. "Royalty return to Pikes Peak for 100th running" (Press release). Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. May 20, 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  7. "PPIHC Results 1916-2021" (PDF). The Pikes Peak Hill Climb Historical Association. May 24, 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  8. Cesar, Alan (May 15, 2020). "Lamest Classics: Extreme exclusivity with the Hyundai Scoupe". Hooniverse. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  9. "Before N - 스쿠프 #2 - Before N - N - 고성능 N - TECH - 브랜드 스토리 - 브랜드 | 현대자동차". Hyundai (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  10. "Ward's Auto World, September 1992, at". Hyundaiclub.net. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
  11. MotorWeek | Retro Review: '92 Econo Sport Comparo: Paseo, NX1600, Scoupe, Saturn, Storm on YouTube
  12. Ingram, Antony (8 April 2021). "Scoop up this Hyundai Scoupe for a couple of grand". Hagerty UK. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
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