Which car outsells the Fiat Coupe in Italy, boasts Porsche-tuned suspension and has transformed Hyundai’s image in the UK? The answer is the Hyundai Coupe, which has just received a new look for 2000 and enters showrooms on 14 February.

Since arriving in 1996, the Coupe has proved to be one of Hyundai’s most popular cars ever thanks to its head-turning good looks.

And with its latest improvements including extensive restyling to the front and rear, the stage is set for the new Hyundai Coupe to appeal to more people than ever before. It should appeal to their wallets too, with on the road prices starting from £13,999 for the 1.6i.

Enthusiasts will easily be able to differentiate the new Hyundai Coupe from its predecessor on the road by its striking new design. Most obvious is the redesigned front end now with twin round projection headlamps that have been engineered for improved and more focussed night vision.

With minor changes to the front air dam and a newly sculpted bonnet, the ‘face’ of the new Hyundai Coupe is even more distinctive than before. Other restyled features on the car include new rear light clusters, a new rear bumper, larger rear spoiler and a new five-spoke alloy wheel design.

The redesign isn’t confined to the outside either with a sporty new look interior. A new metallic silver trim is now evident on the ventilation controls, gearlever and door panels, while the two-tone leather on the SE models and a revised look to the dashboard help to avoid the dark and sombre nature of some coupes’ interiors.

The new Hyundai Coupe continues to use the 1.6 and 2.0-litre versions of Hyundai’s modern generation ‘Beta’ 16-valve engine with 111bhp and 137bhp respectively. Performance remains competitive with a 0-62mph time of 8.6 seconds and a 125mph top speed for the 2.0-litre. That’s not at the cost of fuel economy either with more than 30mpg easily attainable on the combined cycle.

The engine is also more comforting on the ear too, thanks to new sound-insulating measures in and around the cabin. And, unusually for its class, Hyundai Coupe buyers also have the option of a four-speed automatic transmission as well as the standard five-speed manual.

With these latest changes, Hyundai has taken the opportunity to improve the new Coupe’s safety features. A de-powered driver’s airbag is fitted as standard in all models, as are the latest generation seat-belt pre-tensioners with load limiters to control tension and reduce the risk of internal injuries. Dual side impact bars are also standard and four-channel anti lock brakes are standard on the 2.0 SE model.

Coupe buyers benefit from Hyundai’s traditionally high levels of standard equipment too with an immobiliser, electric front windows, central locking and an RDS stereo on all models. SE-specification cars further benefit from two-tone leather upholstery, alloy wheels, air conditioning and a CD player.

As with all Hyundai cars, the Coupe comes with a three year unlimited mileage warranty and three years RAC cover.

• Three model range - 1.6i, 1.6 SE, 2.0 SE
• New distinctive look, inside and out
• Porsche-tuned suspension
• Choice of 1.6 and 2.0-litre 16-valve petrol engines
• De-powered driver’s airbag standard across range
• On the road prices from £13,999 for the 1.6i up to £17,399 for the 2.0 SE