Hyundai is getting ready to debut their new 2018 Hyundai Kona this summer, their big new subcompact crossover answer to the Nissan Juke. And by the looks of it, we’ll have to ride out another drawn-out promotional campaign all the way up to the Kona’s official premiere that is still months away. Hyundai stated with vague headlight close-up and now we get a first look of the new model’s intriguing face, also shrouded in shadows. We’re not sure what’s next, but we hope we don’t have another Dodge Demon, three month long promotional bonanza situation on our hands.
image credit: carbuzz
Design
What we get from these latest teasers and spy shots of the new 2018 Hyundai Kona is that Hyundai is trying to adopt a bold new design direction, that will distance them from the somewhat dreary style identity of the past. The Kona is said to have a “progressive appearance” with the company’s brand-new Cascading Grille. From the front, the Kona is evocative of the Jeep Cherokee and its polarizing twin-headlamp design by sporting the LED daytime running lights placed right above the lower LED headlights. This design does make for a self-assured vehicle coated with sharp and sleek design lines.
Moreover, the prototype from the spy shots suggests a wide body stance that creates a rather formidable look. This kind of design is just what might make the new Kona a an alluring new addition to the subcompact crossover segment. As Hyundai puts it, the Kona offers you a real SUV experience as opposed to some other models dominating the segment who some might call hatchbacks with an elevated seating position.
[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”88″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_slideshow” gallery_width=”600″ gallery_height=”400″ cycle_effect=”fade” cycle_interval=”8″ show_thumbnail_link=”1″ thumbnail_link_text=”[Show thumbnails]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]
image source: carbuzz.com
Engine and Powertrain
While don’t know much about the Engine and Powertrain alignment, some reports suggest the Kona will be based on the i20, meaning it will feature the same exact 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that can be found inside the RM30 concept. This setup manages to deliver up to 250-horsepower and that is the kind of power that the Kona needs if Hyundai wants to stand a chance in the highly-competitive subcompact crossover market.
Nissan Juke
Image credit: netcarshow
2018 Hyundai Kona Release Date and Price
The 2018 Hyundai Kona is expected to hit the showrooms by the start of 2018. The official debut is scheduled for this summer, however, Hyundai is yet to disclose the exact date and time of their showcase. What we do know for sure is that the Kona is a very important model for the brand, since they are on a mission to take throne as the leading Asian automotive brand in Europe by 2024, so they are pulling all of their resources for this new model.
Since it will be competing with the likes of Nissan Juke, we expect the 2018 Hyundai Kona to start at an approximately same price point as the Juke, which is currently starting at $21,190 and ranging all the way up to $27,880 for the top of the line model.
