The Hyundai Kona N 2021 has been revealed as the company's first high-performance SUV. Hyundai claims that the Kona N is aimed at consumers who want the thrills of a hot hatch while still having the functionality of an SUV.
Hyundai announced today that the 2021 Kona N will be powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine as the i30 N hot hatch, with 276 HP and 392Nm in regular mode – and a boost to 285 HP for 20 seconds. When launch control is used, the Hyundai Kona N claims a 0-100km/h time of 5.5 seconds – 0.4 seconds faster than the i30 N.
The 'wet' twin-clutch 8-speed automatic – which, like the Hyundai i30 N, drives the front wheels with an electronically-controlled mechanical limited-slip differential – has three operating modes: N Grin Shift, N Power Shift, and N Track Sense Shift.
The five drive modes – Eco, Normal, Sport, N, and Custom – change the engine's responsiveness, stability control, and steering, as well as the loudness of the exhaust, which can be programmed by pressing a button on the steering wheel.
Hyundai has no plans for an all-wheel-drive version of the Kona N at the moment.
The visual differences are small as compared to N Line models, but the front bumper now has working ducts to cool the front brakes, and the rear wing is said to have been validated on the Nürburgring test track after being established in a wind tunnel.
The Hyundai Kona N has a lower and wider profile thanks to body-colored fender flares and wider offset wheels.
The performance SUV comes standard with lightweight cast 19-inch alloy wheels coated in 235/40 Pirelli P Zero tires designed specifically for it. Front and rear larger brakes are also mounted. The Hyundai Kona N comes standard with a variable exhaust system with bigger twin exhaust outlets.
The Kona N's interior features two 10.25-inch widescreen screens, one for the instrument cluster and one for infotainment. Rather than projecting information into the driver's line of sight, a plastic panel folds out from the dash top to serve as a heads-up monitor. The seats, steering wheel, gear lever, and brake and accelerator pedals are all exclusive to the Kona N, but the rest of the cabin is based on stock Kona models.
standard safety features include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Driver Attention Warning, High Beam Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Smart Cruise Control.