First Look: 2008 Spirra S Koreas First Supercar

[icemhan_21]

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_01l+2008_spirra_s+front_three_quarters_vi ew.jpg

It has a mid-mounted, quad cam supercharged engine, forged alloy wheels, carbon fiber body panels and Brembo brakes. Claimed top speed is 190mph. It's a fast, good looking supercar with the sort of spec sheet you'd expect to find on something made in Italy. But the Spirra S is built near Seoul. Yup, meet Korea's first ever production supercar. It was only a matter of time.

The Spirra S is powered by a supercharged version of Hyundai's 2.7-liter V-6. Claimed output is 391hp at 6000rpm, with 256lb ft of torque available at 4500rpm. The engine drives the rear wheels through a six speed manual transmission. Claimed 0-60mph acceleration time is about 4.6 seconds.

The Spirra's race car-style space frame chassis is fairly conventional, with double wishbones and coil-over shocks at each corner. The five spoke forged alloys are 18in diameter front and rear; front tires are 235/40ZR18, while the rears are 275/40ZR18. Front brake rotors are 14in, gripped by six piston Brembo calipers, while the rears are 13.8in with four piston calipers.

Carbon fiber body panels help keep the Spirra's claimed weight to just 2376lb. The body design is relatively generic mid-engined supercar stuff, but that's no bad thing - the Spirra S looks neat and handsome. The interior is also fairly conventional, although the center console boasts a sophisticated touch screen on-board computer system.

That's because Oullim Motors is part of Korean IT and electronics giant Oullim Group, which got into the auto business when it acquired Protomotors in 2007, the company which has been developing the Spirra for almost a decade. A concept version of the Spirra, the PS2, was first shown in 2001, and subsequent protoypes were revealed in 2003 and 2005.

Oullim sources say production of the Spirra S is scheduled to start next month. As the car will be hand-built, volume will be limited to 300 vehicles a year.

Even so, Oullim has plans to release even hotter versions of the Spirra, including a Turbo with 591hp and 350lb ft of torque, and a Bi Turbo model which retains 591hp, but churns out 401lb ft. The Spirra Turbo will be available with the choice of a conventional six speed manual, or a sequential shift transmission, which Oullim insiders claim will cut the 0-60mph time to just 3.4 seconds. The Spirra Bi Turbo will only be available with the sequential transmission, and will hit 60mph in 3.2sec.


http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_08z+2008_spirra_s+wheel.jpg

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_11z+2008_spirra_s+rear_three_quarters_vie w.jpg

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_07z+2008_spirra_s+rear_view.jpg

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_10z+2008_spirra_s+side_view.jpg

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_02z+2008_spirra_s+front_view.jpg

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_04z+2008_spirra_s+top_view.jpg

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_03z+2008_spirra_s+engine.jpg

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_09z+2008_spirra_s+steering_wheel.jpg

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_05z+2008_spirra_s+interior_view.jpg

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_06z+2008_spirra_s+interior_view.jpg

would you guys consider this thing as a supercar if it has the same engine as the hyundai tiburon and santa fe? i dont..

[Quail]

Far from a supercar, but a nice little coupe. Interior looks a bit cheap - the steering wheel looks like something off Ebay

When I think of Supercars, I think of outrageous Italian wedge-monsters from the 80s.

[Phlip]

How much are they gonna charge for this thing?

[icemhan_21]

sale price in korea is 109,000,000 KRW = $ 95,000 which is too much for a car thats made by an unknown company that has a hyundai engine.. id rather buy a gtr

[icemhan_21]

look at the place where they test it.. lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4vMfzAySeM

[SW20Racer]

edit: lol, i got a video before i even asked for it! what service!

hm, doesnt look THAT bad, $100k is a bit much though...lets see some road tests! watch it surprise us...

lol, i got a mental image of bub-rub going "the blow off valve goes whum-pshhh!!"

[blasting_speed]

It kind of looks like a NSX to me. That's a lot of money too. I'd rather be driving a GT-R anyway.

[origin_s135]

reminds me of the veilside FORTUNE FD.

[Quail]

I think supercars should have some sort of status attached to them. They're not just built to drive fast; they're built to be status symbols. Outrageous; loud and proud. Unfortunately, this car will never be a status symbol. It will be seen as a glorified Tiburon.

Compare this:

http://images.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/112_0804_06z+2008_spirra_s+interior_view.jpg

to these:

http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/PaganiZondaInterior.jpg

http://www.sportscarcup.com/cars/ferrari-612-scaglietti-interior.jpg

http://www.webwombat.com.au/lifestyle/fashion_beauty/images/lamborghini-murcielago-lp640-3.jpg

[Pank]

They had the spirra in 2005, and announced it way before then. I will say this incarnation looks WAY better than the others

[EDacIouSX]

is it me or does it look like it needs a better lsd or something?? doesnt even sound all that baller, but the turbo is pretty prevelant

[azndoc]

That's not a "supercar"

At first glance I thought of ferrari knock-off.

Then the video kinda reminded me a exterior mod S15.

Then I got bored and am now moving on with my life.

[Daniel.]

"i was going to check it out, but then I decided to carry on with my life"

[jackjack]

emblems remind me of

http://thelifetransformed.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/thundercats.jpg

[a_ahmed]

it looks like a bad ferrari kit car... well if they could price it at hyundai pricings say hyundai supercar 50,000$ pricings, lol theyll have a winner. 100k for a hyundai in ur dreams lmao

But yeah I remember this car on ps2 in gt3 or was gt4 or both i forget... protocars or something as the article stated... always looked like an NSX wanabe in the game

[gabe30]

i could be wrong, but i thought supercars were suppose to go faster than 200mph.

i would rather spend that money on a gtr rather than a unknown name "supercar"

[an_orange_s2k]

this makes me want to stay away from korean cars even more. def not worth the money, interior is ridiculous, isnt a true supercar. korea fails in making cars

[ayuaddict]

i could be wrong, but i thought supercars were suppose to go faster than 200mph.

i would rather spend that money on a gtr rather than a unknown name "supercar"

i would rather spend that money on a lifetime supply of cherry 7up.

...or something

[SimpleS14]

Doesn't appear to be a supercar in my eyes. I agree Quail that a supercar has some sort of status symbol and heritage attached to them. The Pagani Zonda is "new" in terms of supercar status, but that exterior, interior and exhaust note scream exotic supercar.

[coreansurfer]

usually i'm proud of corean stuff and what not, but the best thing about this car is the emblem.

now if they knocked the price to 50k or so then it'd be a different story.

[icemhan_21]

i think they kinda stole the design of noble m15


http://www.techeblog.com/files/noble_1.jpg

[RiversideS13]

the price is way too much. i would rather get a M3 or a used Porsche if i had that much money to spend, or squeeze out another 20k for Audi R8

[OptionZero]

It does lack "heritage"...but that doesn't say anything about the actual quality/performance, which we won't know until people get to drive it.

Looks ok, headlights are obnoxiously huge.

[98s14inaz]

I concur, not a super car, $90k is too much. The car is an obvious knock off. I do applaud Hyundai or whoever is pulling the strings for starting to think performance though. Since Korean cars arrived in America they have been made fun of and were generally pieces of crap. Now they are starting to challenge the bigger companies and force them to think performance again too. At least they are going in the right direction.

[s14_legend]

it looks like a combo of a ferrari/lotus/lambo all in one from the exterior...just a little to pricely forealz....

[SimpleSexy180]

you guys bitch and complain too much.

what dont you get when it says "FIRST SUPERSTAR".

as for interior...just change the MATERIAL and then nobody would be complaining about how cheap it looks.

[2ilvia]

well at least it looks good, bov too loud for a stock car methinks

[BustedS13]

I think supercars should have some sort of status attached to them.

that's fucking gay.

[!Zar!]

Well, ALL supercars had to start from somewhere.

This is a start for them. Most of you are ragging on it, but it's still better than a piece of shit 240/350.

With that said.

All that video shows is of it drifting.

I don't give a fuck if it can drift. I want to see it handle around a course.

[BustedS13]

Well, ALL supercars had to start from somewhere.

This is a start for them. Most of you are ragging on it, but it's still better than a piece of shit 240/350.

With that said.

All that video shows is of it drifting.

I don't give a fuck if it can drift. I want to see it handle around a course.

+1

why doesn't it have an airbag, is this thing coming to america?

[drift freaq]

Ya it is kinda funny that there idea of testing a Supercar is drifting lol. A Supercar? Maybe, its not a bad start for the Koreans seeing as them came from nothing Sports Car wise. The jury is still out though on fit and finish and whatnot. Also 95k? Ah, no way, overpriced. I would not call a 350 a piece of shit Zar. Its a great entry level sports car. As were 240sx's. People need to stop ragging on 240sx's. If you think a 240sx is a piece of shit you should just sell it and move on.
I will say this. I drive a 240sx because its a fun car. Piece of shit? No. Old yes. Better stuff now? Debate worthy.

[!Zar!]

Ya it is kinda funny that there idea of testing a Supercar is drifting lol. A Supercar? Maybe, its not a bad start for the Koreans seeing as them came from nothing Sports Car wise. The jury is still out though on fit and finish and whatnot. Also 95k? Ah, no way, overpriced. I would not call a 350 a piece of shit Zar. Its a great entry level sports car. As were 240sx's. People need to stop ragging on 240sx's. If you think a 240sx is a piece of shit you should just sell it and move on.
I will say this. I drive a 240sx because its a fun car. Piece of shit? No. Old yes. Better stuff now? Debate worthy.

It's said all in fun.

If I truly thought they were shit cars, I wouldn't continue buying/investing in them. Nor would I be on my 6th something s chassis.

[godzillarb]

I think the correct price would be around 35k.

I'd be interested at like 20k.

The car looked alright in the photos but there was nothing impressive about its "track" run. I guess it's a fair attempt at their first true performance car. My guess is that this car will be a piece of shit until the manufacture starts racing it competitively.

[muddafakka]

Wow, it's like the Korean version of the Farbio GTS...of course less refined and what-not.

If you don't know what I'm talking about...
http://www.farbiosportscars.com/the_cars_gts.asp?sub=cars

It's not bad, I give Korea props for at least trying. It's a bit pricey though. Somewhere around $30-40K seems just about right.

[fliplyricist1]

r35 > that thing

Nothing good has ever come out of Korea.

Ever.

[HyperTek]

i would say its probably simular to Spyker , not what usually comes to mind as a supercar