Kia Niro-based, second-generation Hyundai Kona will offer mix of petrol and electric powertrains.
The second-generation Hyundai Kona has been spied again, this time undergoing on-road assessment in the Alps.
We’ve seen the new Kona testing before, but this car has shed some of its camouflage to give us our clearest view yet of Hyundai’s rival to the likes of the Ford Puma, Renault Captur, and Peugeot 2008.
The second-generation Kona is likely to use an updated version of the design of the current model, forgoing the retro-futuristic angular design of the Ioniq 5.
The Kona introduced the split headlight design to Hyundai’s SUV lineup back in 2017 and has become a key part of the brand’s design language, featuring on the new Bayon and Santa Fe.
We can see an ultra slim cut out for the top headlight and a larger cluster for the lower one, just like the current Kona. The front bumper is also visible for the first time, highlighting a large lower grille in a similar design to what the facelift in 2021 brought.
At the side, there’s a new design of 10-spoke alloys and the signature wheel arch extension look of the first-generation has been retained. Around the heavily camouflaged rear an exhaust can be seen, confirming that the next Kona won’t be electric-only. The camouflage around the rear light hasn’t changed so we could see the use of a split rear light.
With the introduction of the smaller Bayon and the larger Tucson growing in size there’s room for the Kona to grow, too. The outgoing Kona sits on the same platform as the first-generation Niro, but the upcoming second-generation Niro uses the larger, latest iteration of the K platform and the Kona is likely to follow.
Hyundai has denied reports it has ended its development of internal combustion engines so we expect to see a similar range of hybrid petrol models. The pure-electric Kona Electric will almost certainly return and it could get a larger battery to help beat its current 480km range. The new Kona Electric isn’t expected to borrow the 77.4kWh battery from the Ioniq 5 as that car sits on a bespoke electric platform and the Kona will still need to fit hybrid powertrains. Instead, it could utilise the same 150kW 64.8kWh battery found in the new Kia Niro EV.
Hyundai hasn’t revealed any information about the next-generation Kona but we should see a full reveal in 2023 with the car hitting dealerships soon after.
Alastair Crooks