Hyundai enters the ‘Hot’ SUV game – confirms Kona N for U.S.
A Veloster N at heart, but much bigger!
2020, a disastrous year, although not so much for Hyundai, as it teased what looked like a Kona N. Following hundreds of spy shots of a heavily camouflaged vehicle being vigorously tested, Hyundai still hadn’t confirmed anything about Kona potentially becoming the South Korean automaker’s first high-performance crossover. Come 2021, that has changed!
We can happily confirm that yes, the hardcore version of the environment-friendly Kona Electric SUV from Hyundai, dubbed as the Kona N, is on its way! Kona N (different from the Kona N Line), adds practicality to the N models (not to be compared with the N Line) like the i30 N, i20 Fastback N, i20 N, and the weirdly-styled Veloster N.
Important to understand is that the N Line represents the first level of tuning from the Hyundai N division. Above this sits the pure N level of tuning, seen on the Veloster N, i30 N, i30 Fastback N, and i20 N.
Hyundai has also confirmed that the DCT will be a wet dual-clutch unit; same ‘box found in Veloster N. The gearbox will most likely be mated to a 2.0L 4-cyl turbocharged unit from Veloster N capable of producing upwards of 275hp and 278 lb-ft of torque.
While the vehicle in the images is a testing vehicle and is camouflaged to the limit, we can see the upcoming ‘Hot’ SUV from Hyundai boast bigger-than-usual alloys, a large mesh grille sitting comfortably on the enormous front-fascia, and the oh-so-lovely dual exhaust tips on the rear. Obviously.
The Kona N will arrive with a Launch Control (kids will never be late to school again, then), and in words of Hyundai, an “emotional sound experience”. It’ll also have an advantage over the likes of a BMW X1, Audi Q3, as it should be more affordable, and faster, than the two, when it reaches the shores.
Till Wartenberg, VP & Head, N Brand Management & Motorsport Sub-division, has said that the enthusiasts will be able to play with the Kona N “anywhere”; the road or the track. More details on the Kona N are expected in the coming weeks.
