Fast and Furious Hyundai Kona N is in the Works

Published on October 25, 2019 in News by Guillaume Rivard

The Hyundai Kona is one of the hottest small crossovers on the market right now and it’s about to get even hotter.

The Korean automaker is currently testing a performance-focused prototype of the Kona at the Nürburgring in Germany with plans to sell it under its N sub-brand, according to multiple reports.

The new Kona N will feature some form of body kit, larger alloy wheels, stronger N brakes with red brake calipers and a louder-sounding dual exhaust system—pretty fine performance upgrades to begin with.

Photo: Hyundai Canada Inc.

More importantly, it will mark a big departure from the naturally aspired 2.0-litre and turbocharged 1.6-litre engines currently offered by Hyundai (which deliver 147 and 175 horsepower, respectively). How? Well, the Kona N is expected to share the Veloster N hatchback’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Output could be a bit lower than that, however.

While a six-speed manual transmission seems unlikely, the production Kona N is bound to utilize an automatic transmission—either a conventional one or a dual-clutch type. The bigger question is, will it come with front-wheel drive like the Veloster N or all-wheel drive like select Kona models? We’d wager on the latter.

Photo: Hyundai Canada Inc.

Meanwhile, one rumour suggests the Kona N will replace the standard torsion-beam rear suspension with a multi-link setup.

So, when will we see it? Development appears to be still at an early stage, meaning we could have to wait a couple of years before the vehicle arrives. Let’s hope it lands in Canadian showrooms unlike the Kona Hybrid.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare by emailShare on redditShare on Pinterest
Share

ℹ️ By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy. ×