WANT to make an impact with a flashy-looking sports car that doesnít cost the earth to buy or run – and provides a mechanical safeguard until 2012?

The five-year guarantee, unmatched by competitors in this market sector, gives the game away. Hyundai's Coupe is the kind of car that British manufacturers invented but left the Koreans and Japanese to build and market all over the world.

The 2.7 six speed automatic, which costs £20,495, is the flagship of the third generation range.
Those good looks include a suitably aggressive face featuring glass encased headlamps, an air intake and fog lamps. Shark gills enhance the sides of the car along with prominent colour-keyed door mirrors which are electrically adjustable and the wheels are 17 inch alloys; at the rear there is a tasteful spoiler and twin exhaust pipes.
The six cylinder 24 valve engine can reach 135 mph and reaches 60 mph from a standstill in eight and a half seconds.

Rasp and roar are all part of the sports car concept but in this one not overly so because of the insulation.
Cruise control is also standard though it won't be exactly a priority for the enthusiast.

Driver's, front passengerís and side airbags are fitted as standard, as are the latest generation seat-belt pre-tensioners with load limiters to control tension and reduce the risk of internal injuries. ABS brakes supported by EBD and dual side impact bars and traction control are also specified.

Inside, there are smart black leather seat coverings with white stitching, light headlining, an overhead console and aluminium trim for the door handles, steering wheel, central ventilators and gear lever top and surround.
You also get the obligatory drilled pedals - and the equally obligatory sunglasses holder in the roof.

The instrumentation is a delight: white on black digits with the kilometre markings just as easy to read as the miles. If you need glasses for reading but not distance, or you don't need glasses at all, it would be a joy to  take this car abroad and not have to make continual mental calculations.

At night, however, the ice blue background is a little too bright. The signals stalk is on the right of the column, where I have always felt it should be, and the switches for the windows and exterior mirrors are located on the doors - also where they should be. Considerable steering wheel adjustment is available and there are trailing lights on the doors.

Two plus twos also often lack space for knees and elbows but effective use is made of what is available here and there’s a walk-in device that aids access and egress for those at the rear. For those of shorter stature, like me, however, it’s as well to get used to having the driving seat further back than normal because the handbrake is itself positioned further back down the central console than is usual.

After I first encountered this it took my left shoulder six months to recover. Sitting further back is, of course, really no bad thing given the proximity of the driver's airbag. Standard equipment include climate control, an immobiliser, electric windows, central locking by remote control, an integrated audio system with a CD player linked to six speakers and with iPod compatibility and an integral aerial, air conditioning and some leather trim.

Cars with two vanity mirrors are considered to be 'girlie' but Coupe truly appeals to drivers of either sex.
Within the boot area - more spacious than in cars of this class at 14.8 cubic feet - you'll find a spacesaver spare wheel.

That five year warranty allows unlimited mileage and it is also transferable to a new owner - if you really want to sell. There’s also an anti-rust safeguard. Coupe prices start at £15,745 for the 1.6 manual and a 2.0 litre engine is also available.