THE looming Hyundai Kona N has – nearly – been laid naked in a collection of darkened teaser pictures launched this week by Hyundai Motor Firm Australia (HMCA) because the model locks in a 3rd quarter launch for its new hi-po SUV.
As anticipated, the Kona N takes lots of the semi-skim Kona N-Line’s aggressive options and turns all of them as much as 11 with nearly all the pieces being larger, chunkier and much more aggro.
Beginning on the entrance, the N shares a lot of the N-Line’s entrance fascia however ups the ante with an enlarged decrease consumption, distinctive N grille mesh, refined mild signature and a red-accented entrance splitter.
The purple theme is sustained down the flanks of the automotive within the extra aggressive facet skirts whereas unique alloy wheels assist to pump up the general look together with an inevitably decrease trip peak and stiffer suspension tune.
An identical, if no more excessive makeover has been made on the rear of the automotive with the N changing the N-Line’s delicate twin exhaust ideas with an enormous dual-pipe set-up exiting from a extra aggressive – and red-accented – diffuser.
The rear bumper housing the diffuser itself has additionally been given a workover to now characteristic an abundance of pumped-up sculpting and additional air channels, complemented properly on the prime by a double-wing roof spoiler and signature triangular N tail-light.
“The all-new Kona N would be the newest addition to the Hyundai N model line-up, and the primary N mannequin with an SUV physique kind,” HMCA stated in a press release.
“For the very first time, the Hyundai N division and Hyundai Design Centre labored collectively to develop on an SUV physique kind, making a product that clearly represents a strong presence and driving enjoyable.”
Whereas the photographs don’t reveal any particulars of the inside, it might be secure to imagine the Kona N will resemble that of the common Kona, albeit with N sports activities seats, pedal and steering wheel together with some purple stitching, N badging and some different go-faster bits like we’ve seen earlier than on the i30 N hatch.
When it comes to powertrains, HMCA continues to be refusing to spill the small print on the Kona N and its key statistics, however as beforehand hypothesised by GoAuto, chances are high it is going to include the identical force-fed 2.0-litre four-banger because the facelifted i30 N, growing 206kW/392Nm.
What we do know for certain is that the Kona N will arrive Down Beneath that includes the brand new eight-speed ‘N DCT’ dual-clutch computerized transmission, nonetheless it stays to be seen if energy shall be despatched to the entrance wheels or all 4.
Given its SUV physique, our cash is on the latter choice given the N-Line variants are each all-wheel drive and it might present the Kona N an additional level of distinction to the front-drive i30 N sizzling hatch in addition to the smaller i20 N.
HMCA has offered 2414 Konas thus far this 12 months ending February, accounting for 11.6 per cent of the sub-$40,000 small SUV section behind the Mitsubishi ASX (2767/13.2%) and MG ZS (2555/12.2%).
