It was just last month that Hyundai released the first teaser ad for the upcoming Kona subcompact SUV. Expected to make its official debut very soon, the new Hyundai Kona is a very important product for the South Korean carmaker. Ahead of its global premiere, the company has now released a couple of detailed teaser images of the car hinting at its imminent arrival. The Kona will be a premium offering from Hyundai and it is likely that the subcompact might come to India. The Kona will rival the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Ford EcoSport along with its Kia cousin, the Stonic which is also likely to make it to our shores.
The Hyundai Kona has already been spotted testing in Europe on a couple of occasions. So, we know what the car actually looks like. Visually, the Kona has a crossover look and comes with several exterior features like full-LED headlamps coupled with the sequential LED daytime running lamps and the futuristic styling, which add to the premiumness of the upcoming subcompact SUV. One interesting design bit is the two-tier headlamp setup, with the DRLs placed above and the primary lamps are located slightly below, housed in beefy plastic claddings. Up front, you also have Hyundai's signature cascading grille with the brand logo placed at the centre.
Hyundai Kona's new teaser reveals some of its premium qualities
On the other hand, the car's bold character lines, flared wheel arches, roof rails and beefy profile add to the Kona's SUV DNA. The rear portion comes with a small roof-mounted spoiler and slim LED taillamps. The Kona also features a muscular boot lid and beefy rear bumper with integrated secondary brake lights. Other additional bits include sporty alloy wheels and dual tone outside rear-view mirrors with integrated turn signal lights. While we still don't know what the cabin will look like, judging by its exterior, we expect the interior to be equally funky and upmarket. A previously released teaser video suggested that the Kona will get heads up display (HUD) as well.
As for powertrain options, the 2018 Hyundai Kona will be powered by a host of engine options including a 1-litre and 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol and a 1.6-litre diesel. The engine line-up is similar to what we saw on the recently unveiled Hyundai i30 hatchback sold in Europe. That said, for India, with the new GST rules coming into play, expect the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel engine. Also expect the Kona to get both manual and automatic gearbox options when it is launched in India. We expect an India reveal at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo and a launch soon thereafter with prices around the Rs. 10 lakh mark.
