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Hyundai Coupe goes topless in Frankfurt
Hyundai is set to unveil a real showstopper at the Frankfurt Motor
Show next week, with the first look of the breathtaking Hyundai CCS.
The CCS, which stands for Coupe Cabriolet Study, is the work of Hyundai's
Frankfurt-based Research and Development Centre and renowned convertible
specialists Karmann, and is based on Hyundai's popular Coupe 2+2.
The attraction of the CCS has to be its unique three-phase slide-and-fold
roof - at the touch of a button the driver can switch from a glass
roof, to an open roof to a full convertible.
If the weather is changeable, the driver can retract the glass sliding
roof back over the rear window (by going over the rear window, headroom
is not compromised) - the side supports remain in place so should
the weather change, the roof can slide back quickly into position.
Changing to a full convertible just requires the press of a second
button which folds in the rear screen, and retracts the roof in a
way that still gives maximum luggage space.
The folding roof system is an advance over previous convertible systems
as it requires fewer pivot points. Including all the hydraulic and
electrical components, the weight increase over the regular Coupe
is just 140kg. Hyundai believes solar panels could easily be worked
into the structure of the CCS roof design in the future.

While sharing the stylish look of the hardtop Coupe, the CCS features
new 18 inch wheels with Michelin 225/40x18 tyres, as well as new front
and rear light clusters.
The interior has also received special treatment, with brown leather
Recaro seats, an eight way adjustment and a memory operation. The
CCS also has an excellent sound system - a 280W combination of Becker
hardware linked to Infinity speakers.
The usual problem with convertible cars - lack of boot space - does
not apply to the CCS. It has an impressive 443 litres of boot capacity
with the roof closed, 244 litres with it folded away.
The CCS uses a 2.7 litre V6 engine generating 165 bhp@6000 rpm, and
a six-speed Aichi gearbox - both seen in the popular current Coupe
2.7 V6.
Currently the CCS is a concept car, but if public reaction is favourable
it stands a realistic chance of making it into production.
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