Hyundai has unveiled the zero-emissions version of
the Kona, making it the first electric sub-compact SUV to be offered in Europe.
The new Hyundai Kona Electric will be available with two different powertrain
configurations: the basic model will be powered by a 135 PS electric motor
that’s fed by a 39.2kWh battery pack, giving it an estimated driving range of
up to 300 km on the latest WLTP cycle.
The long-range version ups the ante with a 204PS
electric motor paired to a 64kWh battery pack. Hyundai expects the long-range
Kona Electric to travel up to 470km between charges. Hyundai says
that both versions of the new Kona Electric require around 54 minutes to charge
their batteries to 80 percent using a 100kW DC fast charger. Short-range models
are capable of a 0-100km/h) in 9.3 seconds while the more powerful
long-range Kona EV drops that time down to 7.6 seconds. In both cases top speed
is set at 167 km/h.
Hyundai has added an adjustable regenerative braking
system in the Kona Electric, enabling the driver to adjust the intensity of the
system via the paddle shifts mounted on the steering wheel. The driver cluster
is now all-digital, featuring a seven-inch high-resolution display while the infotainment
system offers a wide range of connectivity features, including Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto. A new dedicated center console hosts all the buttons for the
operation of the car along with the shift-by-wire gear control, creating at the
same time an extra storage space underneath it.
The range of driver assistance systems is also very
impressive and includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Autonomous
Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind-Spot Detection, Rear Cross
Traffic Alert and more.
The new Hyundai Kona Electric will celebrate its
public premiere at the Geneva Motor Show.
