Korean auto-maker, Hyundai has unveiled the latest in its ever expanding range ofvehicles, the Hyundai Kona compact SUV. With a bold and idyosyncratic design the Kona is designed to appeal to customers with active lifestyles.
The Kona joins the SUV bandwagon alongside, the Tucson, Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport…and hints at the design direction of Hyundai Motor’s next generation of SUV models.
This Jeep-Cherokee-looking crossover has high-contrast design elements purposed to give the impression of a masculine protective ‘armor’, while slim LED lamps create a futuristic look. Its low and wide stance, long wheelbase and short overhangs propose visual and dynamic agility, as well as high speed stability. It is also the first SUV to adopt Hyundai’s new signature design feature, the Cascading Grille, featuring a sporty mesh pattern, flanked by wing-type fenders.
The new Kona is offered with a combination of advanced petrol and diesel engines of various power outputs – dependent on the market. These include a 2.0-liter MPI Atkinson-cycle engine producing 149 PS and 179 Nm of torque allowing the car go from 0 to 100 km/h in 10 seconds and reach a top speed of 194 km/h. The Gamma 1.6T-GDI engine boasting 177 PS and 265 Nm of torque launching it from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds, with a top speed of 210 km/h. It is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (7DCT). Then there is the efficient 1.0 T-GDI turbocharged 3-cylinder engine that produces 120 PS.
The lightweight body frame consists of 51.8% Advanced High Strength Steel, which according to Hyundai delivers class-leading levels of passive safety. Active safety features include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), which uses the car’s front-facing camera and radar to detect imminent collision and avoid impact or minimize damage by braking autonomously. Three further systems also utilize the front-view camera to augment safety and convenience, such as Lane Keeping Assist (LKA); High Beam Assist (HBA); and Driver Attention Warning (DAW).
The premium infotainment system offers various advanced connectivity features, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay where specified, with a 5-, 7- or 8-inch display (offered as standard or option dependent on the market). A new Head-Up Display (HUD) projects a virtual image onto the clear glass panel mounted behind the instrument panel to enable the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road. In a first for the segment, the Kona features smartphone wireless charging interface, located in the center console storage, to allowing recharging without cables.
Kona Iron Man Special Edition
At its world premiere, Hyundai Motor unveiled a special edition that shares the name of Marvel’s heroic and powerful character – Iron Man.
With greater width (+40mm), the Kona Iron Man Special Edition presents a confident stance, while special LEDs are applied to the headlights, which sit beneath a matt gray hood, embellished with red and gold accents. The dynamic exterior is further complemented by a 19-inch directional wheel badged with an Iron Man Mask in the center, as well as off-road tires 716mm in outside diameter.
The special edition will go on display at Hyundai Motor’s Motorstudio in Seoul, Korea and the vehicle itself will go on sale in Korea later this month, followed by North America and Europe.
The pricing, specification and trims for the Middle East have yet to be announced, but we are pretty sure it will make a mark when it arrives, probably later this year.
