Aliens exist — and they just sent us the 2018 Hyundai Kona crossover
Hyundai
really wants you to notice the Kona, the newest and smallest member of
its growing crossover and SUV lineup. Named after a district on Hawaii’s
big island, the Kona wears a much bolder design than any Hyundai in
recent memory.
Up front, the only styling cue the Kona shares with recent additions to the company’s portfolio — like the Elantra GT
— is its grille. The daytime running lights are positioned right below
the hood, while the headlights are located further down on the front
fascia. They’re surrounded by a rugged-looking piece of plastic trim
that also wraps around the front wheel arches. We’d believe Hyundai if
it said the Kona was parachuted to Earth from a neon purple flying
saucer hovering around Area 51.
The
rear end echoes the front with long, thin lights and wrap-around wheel
arches. The license plate insert is shaped like the grille, which gives
the Kona a symmetrical design that stands out from the crowd. Some will
love it, and others will hate it, but at least it’s not boring, nor a
scaled-down copy of a bigger crossover. Kudos for doing something
original, Hyundai.
The
concept car-like sheet metal hides a brand-new platform. Front-wheel
drive is the default configuration, and four-wheel drive is offered at
an extra cost. Hyundai points out its engineers managed to integrate the
four-wheel drive system into the car without sacrificing interior
space, but pictures of the cabin haven’t been published yet.
Similarly,
engine options for the United States remain unconfirmed. If we had to
speculate, we’d say the Kona will be offered with the company’s
ubiquitous 177-horsepower, 1.6-liter turbo four. A less powerful
2.0-liter four-cylinder might also join the lineup as an entry-level
offering. Overseas markets will get a three-cylinder and a turbodiesel,
but neither engine will reach our shores.
The
2018 Hyundai Kona will go on sale in South Korea, its home market,
before the end of the month. Michael Stewart, Hyundai’s senior manager
of corporate and marketing PR, told Digital Trends the crossover will
arrive in the United States in the spring of next year. Look for a
pricing announcement — and full technical details for the U.S.-spec car —
in the coming months. Its rivals include the equally outer space-esque
Nissan Juke, the Honda HR-V, and the Toyota C-HR.
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