While it might take some time for Hyundai to officially confirm the name, the new city SUV is being addressed as the Kona and it is expected to be launched this year.
Based on the recently emerged spy shots, the car is moving fast towards the production model and may hit dealership stores before the end of 2017. The concept version which gets usually launched months before wasn’t revealed for the Kona because it is more of a commuter’s vehicle. The car will be launched in Australian showrooms but there is no word on its availability in the US or UK. It could be a SUV that focuses more on the Asian market with a mild focus on other regions.
The design elements of the Hyundai Kona will be inspired by the Qashqai and the Toyota C-HR. It is built on top of the AE platform that is already being used by the automobile manufacturer’s other cars including the Elantra and the i30. The SUV is expected to be quite spacious as it competes with the likes of Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3. The particular segment has always been the fastest growing in all regions and not just Australia that encouraged the manufacturer to come up with a model specially designed for city use.
The official name for the Hyundai Kona will be revealed close to launch date. The spy shots showed that the car is funky and sporty in its overall outlook. A full strip of LED lights adorned the front fascia of the car right above the headlights. It is expected that Hyundai will offer the Kona with 1.6-liter turbo petrol, 1.6-liter turbo diesel and 2.0-liter direct injection petrol engine variants. With multiple powertrains to choose from, buyers will have a wide range of choices at different price points. Besides, they are not performance driven variants that should offer better fuel efficiency.
The engines will be mated to a DCT Gearbox, the one that is already being used in the Elantra SR Turbo edition, reports Motoring. The Hyundai Kona will be the comeback wagon for the brand into the Australian market and they expect to once again create a market share with a practical SUV. The interiors will be posh with all the latest connectivity options and it is expected that there will be multiple trimlines at varying price points to make it appealing to a large buyer base.