Hyundai’s new Kona N gives the perfect balance

The all-new Hyundai Kona N, an urban compact high-performance that combines exhilarating performance with a balanced day-to-day driving experience, has joined the upgraded i30 N in South Africa to expand Hyundai’s N brand line-up.
The Kona N – set apart by its SUV body type paired with powerful, N-specific driving features – combines the fun-to-drive experience of a hot hatch with the versatility of an SUV. Drivers will appreciate its powerful engine and emotional sound experience, while also benefitting from the perfect size and practicality for urban life, including an extensive list of safety features.
“Kona N is a true ‘hot SUV’ with the performance level of a hot hatch. It breaks the rule that SUVs cannot be fun to drive. As an N model, it goes beyond the limits of an ordinary SUV,” said Albert Biermann, president and head of the R&D division at Hyundai Motor Group.
The exterior design features understated design elements with N-exclusive red accents. The combination of body-coloured claddings and the 19-inch wheels provides Kona N with its wide, confident stance.
The all-new Kona N is propelled by a turbocharged 2.0-litre T-GDI petrol engine with a power output of 206kW and maximum torque of 392Nm. It features flat power that provides more torque and power at mid and high-range engine revolutions. The new higher amount of torque uses more.
The all-new Kona N is equipped with N DCT, an eight-speed, wet-type transmission with two separated clutches for better acceleration and a faster upshift. The wet type clutches further provide for better cooling.
Unlike with a traditional automatic transmission vehicle, in Hyundai vehicles with the N DCT, the driver can choose to turn the Creep off. When the creep function is turned “OFF” and the car is in gear D, the car does not automatically roll when the brake pedal is released.
The all-new Kona N introduces the N brand into the SUV line-up without compromising on driving pleasure or performance. The Kona N is also the first Hyundai high-performance vehicle to be equipped with a Performance Head-Up Display (HUD). When turned on in Sport or N mode, information such as RPM, speed, or a shift indicator appear.
As with other Hyundai N models, the all-new Kona is equipped with Launch Control, which helps the car take off from a standing start in dry conditions like a professional race driver. It does this by controlling the engine torque at take-off.
In addition to its racetrack capabilities, the all-new Kona N is at heart still an SUV. An extensive list of the ride and handling features results in uncompromised SUV driving abilities. With specially developed 235/40R19 Pirelli P-Zero high-performance tyres that deliver maximum grip mounted on lightweight 19-inch forged alloy wheels, the “hot SUV” offers excellent performance on a variety of surfaces.
The all-new Kona N is equipped with an Electronic Controlled Suspension (ECS) to control the dampening force. Drivers can influence the stiffness of the suspension with the push of a button to optimise the vehicle’s response for a variety of driving situations, whether on the road or at the racetrack.
In addition, the N Power Sense Axle at the front combined with a multi-link type rear suspension provides enhanced stiffness for improved ride and handling performance.
As with the new base car, the all-new Kona N is available with an extensive list of Hyundai SmartSense active safety and convenience features for added peace of mind. The all-new Kona N’s Hyundai SmartSense active safety features include:
• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA): sounds a warning and applies differential braking to prevent the vehicle from colliding into another vehicle in the adjacent lane.
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA): sounds a warning and applies the brakes to prevent a rear-end collision when the car is backing up and another car comes from the side, for example when exiting a parking space.
• Smart Cruise Control (SCC): maintains vehicle speed and following distance.
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA): automatically keeps the car centred in the lane, corrects course if the car reaches the lane markings by using a front-view camera.
• Lane Follow Assist (LFA): automatically adjusts the steering wheel to keep the vehicle centred in its lane.
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection (FCA) – sounds an alarm and, if necessary, applies the brakes if a collision becomes imminent. Using radar and a camera, the system has been updated to better detect pedestrians and cyclists, in addition to other vehicles.
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW) – continuously monitors and analyses driving patterns through data inputs to detect fatigue or distraction. The driver is alerted with an audible warning and pop-up message to suggest when it is time to take a break.
The recommended retail price of the new Hyundai Kona 2.0 N DCT is R749 900 (including VAT).
As part of the standard package, the customer also gets Hyundai’s seven-year/200 000km manufacturer warranty, a five-year/75 000km service plan and roadside assistance for seven years or 150 000km.