Hyundai Sonata 2002 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

A brief taste of Korea's latest dish | 2018 Hyundai Kona

Disclaimer: We were limited to a short 10-minute drive at Hyundai's research and development facility in Namyang, about a 90-minute drive from the South Korean Capital of Seoul. The closed loop didn't provide much in the way of road variation, and we reached a blistering top speed of 45 mph with all of three opportunities to use the brakes. The Kona we drove was a Korean-spec model. Suspension and steering tuning will be adjusted for the US, though we couldn't get a clear answer on what sort of changes that entails. Expect the US model to be a bit softer than what the Koreans and the Europeans will see, though we'll have to wait until a full first drive to be sure. Hyundai has been on a roll lately, releasing a series of solid if not exactly groundbreaking products, though until now they company was missing an entry into the ever-burgeoning B-segment crossover. For several years, compacts like the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 have ruled the class, but Hyundai is going all-in on crossovers, with several new models on the horizon. The first one out of the gate is the Kona. In the next few years, we'll see a model that slots below the Kona and a large SUV that will sit above the Santa Fe. We got our first look at the new model at Hyundai's new Motorstudio, a place that's half interactive museum and half high-end conference space. The Kona's styling, a mix of original and derivative design elements, is sure to be divisive. The most standout feature is the plastic cladding that comes in either black or grey, depending on the body color. Hyundai is calling it armor. We just hope it's affordable to replace. The front wears Hyundai's cascading grille, an element that's making it's way across the automaker's lineup. It's flanked by what Hyundai is calling is calling composite headlights. It's a split design that places the slit-like turn signals above and separate from the actual headlights. It looks very similar to the current Jeep Cherokee, odd considering the controversy that model caused a few years ago. There's also a bit of Nissan Juke in there, though substantially toned down. You best get used to it, though, as design chief Luc Donckerwolke says it's the new face of the brand. Expect to see some variation making its way across the automaker's lineup. Not so with the rest of the Kona, as Donckerwolke said each model will get unique elements only found on that particular car. For the Kona, it's the armor.

Electric Hyundai Kona crossover to have Bolt-beating 292-mile range

An all-electric Hyundai Kona will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next month, but we already know a few intriguing details about the electric version of the subcompact SUV we've had a brief chance to drive. According to Hyundai's press release, the Kona EV will be available with two powertrain choices, including "one of the most powerful electric engines on the market with a class-leading range of almost 470 kilometers." That would be 292 miles. That's using the WLTP standard, or Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedures, which currently lists the Chevrolet Bolt as achieving 240 miles of range (versus 238 with the EPA). In other words, the electric Kona could be the new non-Tesla range king — the Model 3 Long-Range model is rated at an EPA-estimated 310 miles, and the Model S 100D is at 335. By comparison, the Hyundai Ioniq Electric is rated at only 124 miles. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. It is important to note, however, that this release was from Hyundai of Europe, so we cannot confirm that we'll be getting an electric Kona in the United States. Given those potential range figures and the popularity of SUVs, it would be surprising if we didn't. We'll know more when more details are announced Feb. 27 ahead of its Geneva unveil the following week. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Green Geneva Motor Show Hyundai Crossover SUV Electric Future Vehicles 2018 Geneva Motor Show hyundai kona

How the Koreans are cracking the luxury market

South Korea's two largest automotive brands are no longer the same companies they were when they first entered the world stage.
Anyone who visits Seoul after a few years absence is likely going to be in for a shock. What was, not that long ago, a decidedly third-world city is today a thriving, sprawling metropolis increasingly on a par with the world's most modern cities.