- hyundai has revealed more details about the upcoming kona n.
- we also now have the first official photos of the high-performance crossover in prototype form.
- the kona n will go on sale in europe soon and will reach the u.s. market later in 2021.
update 1/15/21: hyundai confirmed that the kona n is coming to the u.s. later this year. a twitter video shows the performance crossover alongside the closely related veloster n hatchback and tearing around a racetrack.
hyundai's third high-performance n model will take the shape of the kona small crossover. it will follow the veloster n hot hatchback and the elantra n sedan, and we now have our first official photos and a few key specifications for this upcoming performance version of hyundai's smallest suv.
as we suspected, the kona n will be powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that offers up 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the veloster n. unlike the veloster, though, the kona n sadly won't have a six-speed manual transmission as standard. instead, it will come only with the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that was added to the veloster n lineup for 2021. hyundai hasn't said yet whether the kona n will have front- wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
while we'll miss the driver engagement of a manual transmission, we can't complain about the dct's performance potential. if the kona n comes close to the veloster n's numbers, it'll be a swift suv, as we tested a dual-clutch veloster n recently and got it to 60 mph in a quick 4.9 seconds. hyundai also says the kona n will have launch control and that it'll have an amped-up soundtrack similar to the veloster n's rowdy exhaust note.
predictably, the prototype pictured here hints at the n model's more aggressive body kit, larger wheels and tires, and add-ons such as a rear spoiler and dual exhaust tips. the interior will likely feature seats with extra bolstering and plenty of n badges.
the kona n will go on sale in europe initially before reaching the u.s. market later in 2021. hyundai is busy building out its n lineup and has already confirmed that the larger 2022 tucson crossover would come in an n line variant for the u.s.
more details about the hyundai kona n will be coming soon as it makes its european debut within the next few weeks.