Hyundai teases Kona crossover ahead of summer reveal
South Korean manufacturer’s rival to the likes of the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur will be revealed soon
Hyundai has released a teaser video for its new crossover model, called Kona.
It will join the larger Tucson and Sante Fe models as part of the brand’s UK SUV lineup as the smallest in the range when it is officially revealed this summer.
Not a lot is given away in the brief teaser video released today. However, it will likely feature the sharp, angular design lines Hyundai has become known for, hinted at by the slim LED taillights.
Inside, a new head-up display is implemented above the instrument binnacle to display important information in the driver’s line of sight. Hyundai claims the eight-inch projection comes with “class-leading luminance”.
The Kona is expected to share its platform with the brand’s i20 city car, which gives an idea of the new model’s diminutive stature. Engine options remain under wraps, but expect the manufacturer’s 1.6-litre diesel and its petrol engines in 1.4- and 1.0-litre guises.
The South Korean firm has ambitious plans to be the best-selling Asian car manufacturer in Europe by 2021, and entering the lucrative crossover segment will be key in achieving that goal.
The small SUV comes at a good time for Hyundai, which saw its record UK sales in March with 18,460 cars shifted. It’s also up 9.8 per cent for the first quarter of the year compared with 2016’s figures.
Demonstrating consumer appetite for SUVs, the Hyundai Tucson is the manufacturer’s second-best selling car, seeing a 30.7 per cent boost in sales for the first quarter of 2017.
