- hyundai has shared a first glimpse at the kona n, this time without camouflage.
- this high-performance version of the small suv will have the same powertrain as the veloster n.
- the kona n will debut within the next few weeks and should arrive in the u.s. by the end of the year.
hyundai is about to take the kona into the high-performance sphere, where no subcompact crossover has gone before. this is our best look yet at the kona n, which will be the latest car to receive hyundai's racy treatment. from what we can see, it looks the part, and the specs are enticing too.
like the veloster n with which it shares its 275-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine, the kona n has red accents, extra vents and scoops, and an intense-looking rear diffuser with dual exhaust tips. there's an f1-style triangular brake light by the rear spoiler, and the 10-spoke wheels look sporty, too. the interior will likely feature aggressively bolstered seats and plenty of n badges.
sadly, the kona n won't offer a manual transmission like its hot-hatch stablemate. instead, it will come only with the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that was added to the veloster for 2021. hyundai hasn't said yet whether the kona n has front- or all-wheel drive. we can expect strong acceleration given that the veloster n with the dual-clutch got to 60 mph in a scant 4.8 seconds in our testing.
look for hyundai to share full info on the kona n within the next few weeks.