ODDBALL, quirky, frog-like, peculiar… Hyundai’s Kona little SUV has been referred to as more names than the proverbial crimson-headed stepchild. Nonetheless, right up until now, it has not been referred to as fast, or fun… and it unquestionably has not been labelled the decide of the brand’s lauded N-merchandise line-up.
Get a glimpse at the spec sheet – or hussle the Kona N all-around the racetrack for fifty percent a day, like we did – and you are going to soon see why Hyundai’s newcomer is not only a bona fide superior-using very hot hatch deserving of its N moniker, but arguably the very best-suited N car or truck nevertheless for Australian streets (and preferences).
The Kona N is the initially SUV design to emanate from Hyundai’s famed N-division. It shares a lot of its mechanical package with the scorching i30 N, which really should give you an sign that this isn’t just some tarted up buying trolley with a activity badge and a set of chunkier wheels.
In fact, the Kona N (offered in two variants) brings together an energetic 206kW turbocharged two.-litre four with an in-residence-produced eight-velocity dual damp-clutch transmission (DCT), which drives the front wheels by way of an e-LSD, to supply “the ultimate in functionality on street and circuit”.
Priced from $forty seven,500 additionally on-street fees, the Kona N maintains the flexible and sensible SUV characteristics of the donor design. It is geared up with quite a few convenience, ease and comfort and security technologies, as properly as a amount of performance-oriented digital chassis aids and in-cabin interfaces to assist motorists in maximising all that this sporty tremendous-hatch has to present.
Machines contains a electronic instrument panel and big central infotainment array with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, as properly as Bluetooth connectivity, built-in satellite navigation and DAB+ electronic radio reception.
The Kona N has cloth-trimmed sporting activities seats, but the Quality derivative furthermore functions leather and suede blend pews. They are teamed with a leather-appointed steering wheel, gearshift knob and handbrake cover with Performance Blue contrasting stitching in the course of.
The Quality version also gets a head-up display, electric power adjustable seats, front-seat heating and air flow, front parking sensors, LED inside ambient lighting, as properly as a glass sunroof.
The Kona N is further geared up with a Qi wi-fi phone charging pad and eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio technique, along with an comprehensive record of Hyundai’s SmartSense driver help and security technologies – additionally entire LED exterior lighting.
Forward collision-avoidance assist, driver notice checking, lane preserving and -following assist, blind-place checking with rear cross-site visitors alert, tyre strain checking, rear parking sensors, site visitors-sign recognition, adaptive cruise management, sensible exit warning and a reversing digicam are all typical.
The Kona N is geared up with Hyundai’s new Keep track of Maps aspect that routinely alerts motorists when they are close to a mapped racetrack and starts off a lap time as the start off/end line is crossed.
Donning a unique human body kit, an N-specific grille, blacked-out Hyundai emblem and wing-mirror caps, additionally a rear diffuser sporting an LED fog mild and dual exhaust shops, the Kona N is unlikely to be mistaken for a typical grocery-getting model… and with a claimed -100km/h time of five.five seconds (earning it the fastest accelerating N design to date) and a best-velocity of 240km/h, the Kona N will make specific that the buying is property properly in advance of the ice product has melted.
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