2021 Hyundai Kona N set for April 27 debut

Hyundai has released a new teaser for the 2021 Hyundai Kona N and announced the high-performance small SUV will be fully revealed on April 27 ahead of its launch in Australia in August.

Posting a short video on its social media channels, Hyundai also released two new images of the upcoming Hyundai Kona N that include a close-up of its gear lever and a shot of its large brake rotors and N-branded red callipers.

Previous official teasers have largely revealed what's set to be a cut-price rival to the Audi RS Q3 or the Mercedes-AMG GLA 45.

We also know that underneath its bonnet the first-ever Hyundai Kona N will bag the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder as the Hyundai i30 N that should be good for at least the same 206kW/392Nm the hot hatch produces.

Channelling all its might to the road, the Kona N is set to get all-wheel drive and an all-new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that could see the Kona N quicker to 100km/h than the i30 N.

The latest teaser gives us our first proper look at its black 19-inch alloy wheels that are shod with specially developed Pirelli P Zero performance tyres.

The side skirts, meanwhile, reveal the familiar red pinstripe used by Hyundai's N division on other models.

At the rear of the car, earlier images and spy shots have revealed the Kona N will sport an unusual double-wing rear roof spoiler that's claimed to deliver genuine downforce for greater stability at high speed.

Beneath the rear bumper, Hyundai N engineers have introduced a real diffuser that further boosts downforce, along with dual pipes for a new switchable sports exhaust.

With a lower, stiffer suspension and uprated dampers, the Kona N has had its chassis finetuned at the Nurburgring in Germany, just like every other full-fat N model.

Inside, figure-hugging sports seats and a sportier steering wheel have been introduced that both ramp up the drama of the regular Kona's cabin.

Pricing for the pint-sized performance SUV has yet to be revealed, but it’s likely to go close to $50,000 in Australia.

Since it doesn’t have any direct rivals, the closest small SUVs with its level of performance are the far costlier Audi RS Q3 (from $89,900), MINI Countryman JCW (from $61,915) and Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 (from $108,100), meaning the Kona N is shaping up to be a bit of a bargain.

Stay tuned, because final details of the Kona N, including its blistering performance figures, will be revealed on April 27.