Hyundai unveils Kona compact SUV

Hyundai has taken the wraps off the Kona compact SUV. It will go on sale in Korea later this month and will later be introduced in North America and Europe. The company has not revealed any plan to launch the Kona in India.

Hyundai has given the Kona a distinctive new design, which is significantly more aggressive than other models in the carmaker's portfolio. The front gets Hyundai's new cascading grille that is flanked on both sides by large LED headlamps. Slim daytime running lights (DRLs) and turn indicators are located in separate housings placed slightly higher.

The compact SUV also gets thick plastic cladding around the wheel arches. This cladding extends on each end to surround the foglamps at the front and the reverse light and turn indicator clusters at the rear. The brake light is placed in a separate housing and gets a split-section layout. The Kona is also available in dual-tone colour schemes with the roof finished in a gloss black shade.

Features on offer with the Hyundai Kona include a head-up display (HUD) and an optional wireless charging system for smartphones. The compact SUV will be offered with a 5, 7 or 8-inch infotainment systems (depending upon the market), with the larger units also getting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

The Kona will be available with a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, depending on the market. Following are the powertrain options on offer:

• 2.0-litre, four-cylinder MPI petrol, 147 BHP, 179 Nm, 6-speed AT

• 1.6-litre, four-cylinder T-GDI petrol, 174 BHP, 265 Nm, 7-speed DCT

• 1.0-litre, three-cylinder T-GDI petrol, 118 BHP, 172 Nm, 6-speed MT

Additionally, a 1.6-litre diesel engine will also be on offer for select markets, including Europe. Details about this diesel engine haven't been revealed yet. The Kona will be available with 2WD and 4WD options.