Hyundai is giving its Kona crossover the N treatment, hotting up its blobby family hack into a mini super SUV. This is only a first teaser, so there are no technical specifications yet, but it’s a good look at the aggressive body treatment it’ll be getting.
The Kona N (Konan?) will get the now familiar ‘N’ dusting of blistering bodywork containing angry grilles and red highlights, tweaks familiar to anyone who’s driven the i30 N or seen the incoming i20 N. Up front, exclusive for the Kona appears to be triple nostril vents, above familiar hexagonal mesh in emboldened vents. Highlighting the splitter is a red pinstripe, as also seen on Hyundai’s other N-enhanced models. Hyundai reckons the lower grille’s shape is inspired by aeronautic fuselages.
Out the back, it’s a big twin wing with the triangular brake light, a bike splitter with a red pinstripe and monster twin exhaust exits. Around the sides, the arches are bulbous and the stance appears lower. Hyundai says the Kona N “clearly represents a powerful presence and driving fun”.
Now we just need the full reveal, along with the numbers and the price. Could the Ford Puma ST already have a problem on its hands? Given Hyundai N’s track record, quite possibly…
Hyundai
Kona
Kona N