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Newspress
Hyundai Kona
The Hyundai Kona is well-primed to take on the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur
Hyundai’s smallest crossover is en route.
THIS FUNKY NEW compact crossover is the Kona, which Hyundai has pitched as a competitor to Nissan Juke and Renault Captur. Its styling is some of the most adventurous we’ve seen from the Korean manufacturer, and the model is most definitely aimed at a younger, more carefree buyer.
Featuring full smartphone connectivity with the ability to connect to the cloud and wirelessly charge phones, the Kona will appeal to tech-obsessed drivers looking for practical convenience. Other features on offer include electronically adjustable seats and a heated steering wheel.
All-wheel drive is available for those favouring some light off-roading, but the bulk of sales are likely to comprise of the front-wheel-drive model with a 120hp 1.0-litre petrol engine. After the initial launch there are plans to offer a new 1.6-litre diesel engine, but there’s no sign of that yet.
Thomas A. Schmid, COO at Hyundai Motor Europe calls the car a “significant milestone” in the manufacturer’s journey to become the number one Asian automotive brand in Europe by 2021.
Although the Kona is Hyundai’s smallest crossover, it still features plenty of safety systems, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection abilities.
Hyundai Ireland has yet to confirm official pricing for the Hyundai Kona, and it isn’t due to go on sale until the end of this year. Considering the stiff competition it will face in this segment of the market though, it should come very keenly priced.
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