WHILE MANY THINK THE TERM “hot SUV” is an oxymoron, Hyundai obviously begs to differ.
The company has unveiled the all-new Kona N as well as its high-performance philosophy and ambition for sustainable driving fun at Hyundai N Day, a digital showcase dedicated to introducing Hyundai’s N Brand.
Kona N is not only the latest addition to Hyundai’s growing high-performance N line-up but is also the first N model with an SUV body style. It offers a combination of versatility, spirited acceleration, agility and racetrack readiness, one that Hyundai hopes will have broad appeal.
Through the showcase of Hyundai N Day, the company shared N brand’s high-performance philosophy introduced a new brand claim and hinted at future N models in the pipeline. Hyundai also highlighted its commitment to sustainable e-performance, giving a glimpse of the future direction for motorsport initiatives and how it will serve as a basis for upcoming N models.
“We are thrilled to share the mindset, spirit and vision of the N brand to be a leader in the high-performance category powered by traditional internal combustion engines as well as our proven industry-leading battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicle technologies,” said Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Division at Hyundai Motor Company. “Our continuously growing and more balanced N portfolio will open new high-performance options, delivering the ‘grin factor’ no matter what the propulsion technology or body type may be.”
Powerful, agile performance
With technology inspired by motorsports, the N brand excels at delivering driving enthusiasm by providing racetrack capabilities and ‘corner rascal’ ride and handling in everyday sports cars. The all-new Kona N SUV unveiled at Hyundai N Day is no exception.
“Kona N is a true hot SUV with the performance level of a hot hatch. It breaks the rule that SUVs are less fun to drive. As an N model, it goes beyond the limits of an ordinary SUV,” said Albert Biermann, President and Head of R&D Division at Hyundai Motor Group. “Kona N can carve corners on the racetrack and bring excitement to everyday driving.”
Kona N is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged GDI engine with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (N DCT). N DCT is the enhanced version of Hyundai’s in-house developed 8DCT, an eight-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission. To make it suitable for N models, the 8DCT received improvements in durability, allowing it to handle the demands of high-performance vehicles. With the 2.0 litre T-GDI engine, it gives the best performance by applying unique gear ratios. The transmission control unit is calibrated for N, resulting in faster shifting and enabling a range of exclusive driving features, including N Grin Shift (NGS), N Power Shift (NPS) and N Track Sense Shift (NTS).
The powertrain delivers a maximum output of 206kW and 392Nm. With N Grin Shift, the power is enhanced to 213kW, maximising driving fun. The engine offers flat power that ensures high responsiveness and improved acceleration for even more fun on the road or on the racetrack, thereby utilising more of the engine’s potential. Kona N has a maximum speed of 240 km/h and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds, when Launch Control is activated.
Hyundai Motor implemented N Corner Carving Differential, an electronic limited slip differential (E-LSD) on Kona N for control of torque distribution to driving wheels. Kona N also is equipped with 19-inch lightweight forged wheels with high-performance brakes and tyres.
Even at the entry trim, Kona N comes with Launch Control, Variable Exhaust System and most notably N Grin Control System, offering the same driving fun at all levels. N Grin Control System (who came up with THAT name?) offers customers a high level of customisation, with five distinct drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, N and Custom. These drive modes change the character of the all-new Kona N by adjusting the operating parameters of the engine, Electronic Stability Control, exhaust sound, and steering to optimise them for a variety of driving conditions.
The body’s extra welding points, improved strut ring structure and reinforced skeleton enhance rigidity to minimise body roll during manoeuvres.
A gaming experience in real life
Kona N is equipped with a new 10-inch infotainment and digital cluster system featuring an exclusive racing head-up display (HUD) that adds a game-like dimension to every driving experience under N or Sport drive modes. The new infotainment system’s ‘N mode design’ which provides game-like experience with digitalised elements, communicates updates such as lap time and N track maps that help place the driver’s location within the circuit along with other information. The Kona N also maximises driving fun and excitement using various widgets with excellent readability and visibility which allow monitoring of driving information in real time.
Just like popular racing video games, Kona N has customisable N buttons that can be set to toggle custom modes. The custom modes can be pre-set according to the driver’s preferences. The buttons can also turn on and off the lap timer. Unlike popular racing video games, driving the Kona N at the extremes does have the potential to cause serious injury or death.
Sporty design and powerful presence
The all-new Kona N SUV embodies a powerful road presence and driving fun that is true to N brand, and its dynamic driving spirit is clearly expressed by its sporty design.
The combination of body-coloured fenders and 19-inch wheels provides Kona N with its wide, confident stance. The body-coloured fenders emphasise the rich volume of the B-SUV’s muscular body, giving Kona N a close-to-the-ground appearance. The N-specific, 19-inch wheels, that have wider track than other wheel options, are pushed to all four corners to ramp up Kona’s already powerful visual impression.
The newly developed, N-exclusive Sonic Blue exterior colour is a new spin on Performance Blue, the colour most associated with N brand to date. That means Kona N is the only car that can wear Sonic Blue at the moment but previews a possible SUV line-up expansion. Sonic Blue creates an exciting contrast with the N-exclusive red accent that skirts the lower edge of the body.
Kona N’s front lip spoiler, double-wing roof spoiler and side skirts enhance aerodynamic efficiency and provide styling cues that declare its racetrack readiness. The wide lower air intake dominates the front bumper with a shape inspired by an aeronautic fuselage, providing much-needed engine cooling during hot laps and spirited driving. The double-wing roof spoiler, which is integrated with an N-specific triangular brake light, enhances downforce.
Kona N’s interior also conveys the N spirit with brand-specific details such as the Performance Blue colour accents, seats, steering wheel, shift knob and metal pedals.
A full complement of driver assistance and safety features
To ensure safe and convenient daily drives even as a high-performance vehicle, Kona N is equipped with a full array of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features, including:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
- Lane Following Assist (LFA)
- Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
- High Beam Assist (HBA)
- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Alert (RCCA)
- Safe Exit Warning (SEW)
- Smart Cruise Control (SCC)
Kona N is also equipped with Traction Control to handle a variety of terrain and surfaces, including snow and mud (should come in handy on inclement track days!)
N brand’s new claim and strategy
N’s mission is to push the limits of performance to help drivers discover how much fun driving can be. With that in mind, Hyundai Motor also revealed the N Brand’s new brand claim, ‘Never just drive’, on Hyundai N Day. This claim fully captures the N mindset and spirit: “Do more than simply drive. Enjoy every second of it.”
Since its debut in 2013, the N brand has built a fervent following with its winning combination of everyday sports cars and its rapid rise in rally and customer racing.
Together with its Motorsport division, N brand has logged victories at multiple races, including the FIA World Rally Championship, the TCR International Series, Pirelli World Challenge and Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race.
Every high-performance N model – including i30 N, i30 Fastback N, Veloster N, i20 N and KONA N – is designed by passionate experts and engineered at the Hyundai Motor Namyang R&D Centre. Throughout the development, they go to the Nürburgring in Germany, one of the world’s most demanding racetracks, to undergo rigorous testing and validation. Through this painstaking process, N technology has been refined and born. N brand takes its name from Namyang and Nürburgring.
“As a successful challenger in the performance category for almost four years and proactive player of Hyundai brand, N addresses and adapts to the upcoming changes in the performance category,” said Till Wartenberg, Vice President of N brand Management & Motorsport Sub-Division at Hyundai Motor Company. “Driving was never meant to be boring. With N, it never will be. This is reflected with our new N brand slogan ‘Never just drive.’ And will also be the guiding principle of the future electrification of Hyundai N.”
Hyundai Motor is expanding its N and N Line line-up to 18 models through 2022. The flow of new N and N Line models will include variants in each major vehicle segment, suiting the needs of all types of car enthusiasts.
N brand envisions ‘sustainable driving fun’
Hyundai Motor looks to build upon its success with N brand in e-performance possibly with electric and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains.
The company has already proven its e-performance readiness with Veloster N ETCR at the Electric Touring Car Championship in 2019 and RM20e at the Beijing Motor Show in 2020. The RM platform will continue to serve as a ‘rolling lab’ for testing various electrified powertrains, possibly even hydrogen fuel cells. In 2015, Hyundai envisioned how e-performance can become more eco-friendly with the hydrogen-powered N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo fuel cell concept.
Most importantly, the underlying technologies for more sustainable ‘driving fun’ are already available. Hyundai Motor’s dedicated battery electric vehicle platform, E-GMP, which was recently introduced on the all-new Ioniq 5, offers tremendous flexibility and possibilities. And, Hyundai Motor’s proprietary hydrogen powertrain is at the heart of its new HTWO fuel cell system brand.
Technical Specifications
| Dimensions | Overall length | 4215 mm |
| Overall width | 1800 mm | |
| Overall height (roof rack) | 1565 mm (1565 mm) | |
| Wheelbase | 2600 mm | |
| Engine | 2.0 litre T-GDI with flat power | |
| Transmission | 8-speed wet-type DCT (N DCT) | |
| Kerb weight | 1510 kg | |
| Power | 206kW (213 kW with N Grin Shift) | |
| Torque | 392Nm | |
| Top speed | 240km/h | |
| 0-100 km/h | 5.5 sec | |
Once we have tested and assessed the new Hyundai Kona N, seniordriveraus will bring you a comprehensive review, including everything the over-50 driver needs to know.