Hyundai has announced that it will rename the Kona
in Europe, where the model will sell as the Hyundai Kauai. As with these models, the name was based on a
locality in America. Kauai is an island of the Hawaiian archipelago, a place
Hyundai describes as having “great natural beauty and exuberance that conveys
energy and dynamism.”
The Hyundai Kauai is central to Hyundai’s goal to
achieve the No.1 Asian brand status in Europe by 2021, with the launch of 30
new models and variants. The Hyundai Kauai features a brand new design with
minimal content borrowed from current Hyundai models. It will target largely
the European and western markets where customers are receptive to outlandish
designs.
The Hyundai Kauai features a two-tone colour scheme,
‘Cascading’ front grille, two-tier headlamps with LED lighting, muscular
fenders, integrated roof bars, grey body cladding, large five-spoke alloy
wheels and sleek tail lamp on the outside.
Reports say that the Hyundai Kauai sits on the
Hyundai i30’s platform. While 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol, 1.4-litre
turbocharged petrol and 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel would form the engine
options initially, South Korean media says that Hyundai is also working on a
battery-powered pure electric variant. Transmission choices should include
6-speed manual and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Hyundai will offer all-wheel
drive as an option to the front-wheel drive drivetrain layout.
The Hyundai Kauai is expected to go on sale in the
second half of the year. It will compete with the Toyota C-HR, Honda HR-V,
Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Juke.
Cr : Mobil1 and Motor.es
