Bay Harbour: June 01, 2022

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14 Bay Harbour News Wednesday June 1 2022
Kona N provides the grin factor
THERE’S NO shortage of smallto-medium
sport utility vehicles in
today’s market.
However, if you want something
that definitely represents the sport
in that description, then you’ll
have to look hard. Sure, some of
the premium brands have feisty
wagons and SUVs, but they also
have premium prices.
Enter Hyundai’s Kona, it’s
now part of the N programme
of performance vehicles, and it
is a brute in terms of looks and
performance.
It’s an interesting move from
Hyundai, many Kona buyers are
lured by its clean, green image. You
can get Kona from fully electric
to petrol in several forms. In total
there are 10 Kona variants and
given that, it’s become a popular
model in the mid-size SUV
segment.
The Kona N is something
else, though, and it sits on a par
pricewise with the EV entry model
at around $70K, but the two are
chalk and cheese in terms of
concept.
Hyundai’s N series of cars, not be
confused with the tamer N-line, are
developed for speed, acceleration
and handling, they are engineered
through much development work
at performance facilities such as
South Korea’s Namyang research
and development centre and fettled
through many laps at Germany’s
brutal Nürburgring race track.
It was only weeks ago that I
evaluated Hyundai’s stroppy i30N
hatchback, a car that I delighted
in with its power and handling, it
is a car that constantly tantalises
with its high boost turbocharged
2-litre engine, and although it’s
only a front-wheel-drive model
it competes well with those great
hot hatchbacks that are legendary
in that segment. Well, the Kona
N shares the same driveline as the
i30N, even to the point where it
drives out the front wheels only.
Just like the i30N, the Kona N’s
four-cylinder engine develops
206kW and 392Nm, maximum
power is realised comparatively low
at just 5500rpm, although it will
pull happily to almost 7000rpm,
but it’s the area of maximum
torque that is most interesting.
It is realised all of the way from
1950rpm to 5600rpm, which when
you diagnose all of the figures there
is a lot of mid-range pull that never
wilts.
Unlike the I30N, the Kona N
doesn’t get a manual gearbox
option. It shares the dual clutch
system which you treat just like an
automatic transmission, there are
simply just two pedals – accelerator
and brake.
I like DCT gearboxes, they have
quick, sharp shifts that in the Kona
N’s case can be made manually by
the gearshift lever itself or through
steering wheel-mounted paddles.
In terms of how all this gels
is quite remarkable, the Kona N
is a deliberate sports car and it
has all the equipment to usher in
and contain movement. Take the
brakes, for example, they are huge
and have friction compounds that
FEISTY: Huge rear wing sits above the tailgate.
HYUNDAI KONA N: Race-track potential thanks to high performance engine and brakes.
can take prolonged use. Hyundai
even encourage track time in
the Kona N, there are features
to support that – an on-screen
stopwatch and a shifting pattern
that recognises dynamic driving,
activating automatically by
selecting the appropriate gear, and
shift timing that provides optimal
performance.
One of the systems that is quite
quirky is what Hyundai label
N grin shift, it works alongside
the standard N buttons which
in themselves provide a turbo
overboost function lifting power
an extra 7kW. The NGS button
releases maximum power of
the engine and transmission for
20sec, according to Hyundai,
performance that is sure to bring
a grin to the driver’s face. When
the button is pushed, a countdown
begins on the instrument cluster
showing the remaining seconds.
There is also a power shift
feature, it engages when the car
accelerates with more than 90 per
cent of throttle, thereby mitigating
any reduction in torque by using
upshifts to deliver maximum
power to the wheels. This initiates
a type of push feel through the
driveline.
With all of these systems
available there’s no doubt the Kona
N becomes an exciting car to drive,
it is truly a car that likes to have
its freedom. It hunts at open road
speed and it definitely wants to
deliver. Of course, I had to drive
within the legal requirements but
• Price – Hyundai Kona N,
$69,990
• Dimensions – Length,
4215mm; width, 1800mm;
height, 1565mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
front-wheeldrive,
1998cc, 206kW,
392Nm, eight-speed DCT
automatic
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 5.5sec
• Fuel usage – 8l/100km
I can report it is an absolute blast
getting to 100km/h, that time
takes around 5.5sec. According
to overseas reports it will also fly
through a highway overtake –
80-120km/h – in 3.5sec. On the
subject of figures, Hyundai also
claims a 240km/h top speed.
For me, though, the Kona N was
more about its handling prowess.
Just like the i30N, the suspension
has been engineered to deliver
stable, controlled yet exciting
cornering ability.
Providing the grip in the first
instance are wonderful Pirelli
PZero tyres (235/40 x 19in), they
steer beautifully and provide
solid feedback. The Kona N’s fully
independent suspension
is electronically adjustable,
depending on what drive mode
is selected, but you can feel the
dampers tighten and become
firmer in N mode, the car squats
and sits tidily in the rear as
gravitational load shifts in a corner.
I took the test car west and
presented it with some of
the trickiest corners on the
Canterbury Plains, it fair blasts
between corners and attacks
the bends with precision and
accuracy, turn-in is decisive and
body balance uncannily stable for
a vehicle that sits relatively high at
well over 1.5m.
If you also like the feel of
pressure when the brakes are
activated firmly, then they won’t
disappoint, retardation is decisive.
The Kona N is a true
performance model and I guess
that is why it commands a $69,990
price tag.
However, for that money you
get a lot of kit – alcantara trim,
electrically-adjustable and heated/
cooled front seats, heated steering
wheel, satellite navigation, headup
display, smart cruise control,
keyless entry and ignition and a
host of clever safety features.
You are also getting many cars
all in one package, it’s an SUV for
sure, but it’s also a handy sports
wagon. Money depending, I’d be
very interested in the Kona N as I
head towards retirement, it is a fun
car and one that provides the grin
factor that Hyundai is so keen to
develop.
Hyundai is also broadening
the N concept, the Kona N
sits alongside the desirable hot
hatchback i30N, and it’s recently
been joined by the i20N. I certainly
hope I get to sample the latter.
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