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A 247-hp Hyundai Kona N crossover could be a thing

Hyundai's N Performance sub-brand has its sights on the Kona, the automaker's brand-new compact crossover, for its possible next makeover. If it meets with the approval of Hyundai brass, it'll reportedly do 247 horsepower courtesy of the 2.0-liter turbo engine borrowed from the i30 N. Hyundai's N performance boss Albert Biermann tells Auto Express he has instructed his engineers to develop a test mule version of the Kona to consider for production by the end of the decade. "I've told them to build the car and we'll see what happens with it getting approved. It has to be the i30 N powertrain, really," Biermann told the British website, adding that engineers could give the Kona different suspension and steering specs. The i30 N is Hyundai's not-for-America performance fastback and the N division's first offering. It's based off the i30, an overseas version of the Elantra GT, offered in three body styles — hatchback, wagon and "fastback" sedan — and fitted with a six-speed manual transmission. It has two engine options: the aforementioned 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a version generating 271 horsepower that will power the Veloster N, which will come stateside. By contrast, the Kona has two engine possibilities: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 147 hp and 132 pound-feet of torque, or a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that does 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. So the N upgrade would represent a significant boost in power over either of those engines. What other features could a Kona N offer? It could go the N route with a large grille, red-trimmed undercarriage, specialty badging and interior trim and suspension upgrades. Auto Express says upgrades could include a rear diffuser, small roof spoiler and exposed rear tailpipes. Hyundai has sold 5,874 units of the Kona through April since going on sale in February. It also plans an all-electric version for 2019 that will only be offered in the longest-range version in America, which is estimated to go 250 miles on the U.S. test cycle. That version will also be offered in Europe where the estimate is 292 miles of driving range. An entry-level Kona Electric will also be available in Europe with and estimated 186 miles of range. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Hyundai pushes performance in Canadian Super Bowl ad

We keep seeing automakers put their Super Bowl ads online ahead of time, and here's one more to add to the list, although with a twist. The Internet might be the only place for many people to check out Hyundai's commercial because the spot is only playing in Canada during the game. The one-minute ad, titled Welcome to the New Age, eschews telling a narrative like many of this year's commercials. Instead, Hyundai offers a mix of energetic music over stylized imagery of the design, production and driving of the Genesis, plus a few brief cameos of other vehicles from the brand. The result is something a lot more visceral than many of the other spots so far. Too bad so many viewers are going to miss it. Autoblog reached out to Hyundai Canada for more information on the ad. According to company spokesperson Chad Heard, there is "no plan for it to be used in the US. It is specific to Canada." The spot will air during halftime.

Hyundai Veloster Turbo BTR Edition goes demonic at SEMA

Just a few days after Halloween, Blood Type Racing's custom Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec is bringing a demonic look to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas on Nov. 3. This mean little hatchback sports some sinister carbon black paint with crimson accents all around, and a set of red projector headlights top off the devilish details. What's happening under the hood is pretty fiendish, too. The BTR Edition Veloster starts with Hyundai's 1.6-liter four-cylinder, but it's strengthened with parts like forged connecting rods and pistons. The company then adds a high-boost Garrett turbo and retuned ECU. The result is over 500 horsepower to go like a bat out of hell. Beyond the wicked black-and-red aesthetic, Blood Type Racing also fits a carbon-fiber wide body kit, complete with crimson canards at the front corners. Inside, the interior is replaced with a four-point roll cage and racing bucket. The driver can still enjoy some music thanks to a suite of Rockford Fosgate speakers. The Veloster BTR Edition joins a growing slate of custom Hyundais at SEMA this year. In addition to this hellacious hot hatch, there's also a 500-hp Genesis Coupe and a 700-horsepower Tucson. BLOOD TYPE RACING RETURNS TO SEMA, BRINGING ALONG A SINISTER VELOSTER TURBO FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 7, 2015 – Blood Type Racing Inc., the renowned Chicago-based tuner known for his extreme take on Korean vehicles, has revealed its Veloster Turbo R-Spec built for SEMA. The BTR Edition Veloster has an evil twist, designed to look as though it just switched over to the dark side. The car will be revealed at Hyundai's SEMA press conference on November 3 at 11:30 a.m. PT, in Las Vegas. The vehicle's evil appearance began with a "Carbon Black" paint job, accented with a red racing stripe running from the front splitter up onto the hood. A carbon fiber wide-body kit gives the car a muscular, more aggressive stance, and front-mounted aero canards, front splitter and a rear deck spoiler provide down force at speed. Red accents on the custom SSR three-piece wheels, along with red projector "demon eye" headlamps add a final demonic touch to the vehicle's exterior. Using the Veloster's 1.6-liter "Gamma" four-cylinder as a starting block, BTR added new cylinder sleeves, a high-boost turbocharger from Garrett, and custom connecting rods and pistons.