Happenings

Hyundai unveils the Kona compact urban SUV

BY Marcus Lim

The Kona is Hyundai’s latest vehicle in its expanding line-up of SUVs.

Hyundai Motor has unveiled the latest addition to its line-up of stylish SUVs, the Hyundai Kona compact urban SUV, featuring a strong and impactful design that is intended to appeal to modern customers that lead active lifestyles.

Joining the Tucson, Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport in a growing line-up of Hyundai SUVs, the company continues to widen customer choice in the segment with the Kona, reaffirming its promise to deliver SUVs that feature both progressive design and elevated interior refinement.

The Kona distincts itself from the crowd with bold styling that emphasises the car’s dynamic silhouette — featuring a low and wide stance, daytime running lights (DRL), front-to-rear ‘urban protective armour’ and Hyundai’s new family identity, the Cascading Grille with a sporty mesh pattern. Buyers are also encouraged to customise their Kona with a selection of playful colour combinations, while the roof is finished with a contrasting two-tone colour scheme.

The bold styling of the exterior extends inside, with the most prominent feature being a strong, horizontal character line that creates a wide and spacious feel. The Kona achieves best-in-class interior space by optimising the underfloor layout to reduce intrusion into the cabin, resulting in a lower floor and seating position that offers superior levels of headroom and ease of access.

Various petrol and diesel engines will be available depending on individual markets. Three petrol engines are available - a range-topping 1.6-litre turbocharged Gamma T-GDI engine with 174bhp will be mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (7DCT), whilst a 2.0-litre normally aspirated MPI Atkinson engine with 147bhp that is available with a 6-speed automatic transmission slots just below it. For customers prioritising efficiency, a 1.0-litre turbocharged Gamma T-GDI engine with 118bhp will be available for sale with a 6-speed manual transmission. A 1.6-litre diesel engine will be available for select markets.

Sales for the Hyundai Kona in the Korean market commenced earlier in June, with the North American and European markets to follow.

Local readers who are interested to know more about the new Hyundai Kona can visit www.interpage.sg/hyundai to register their interest and be the first to know the latest updates on the new Hyundai Kona.