Hyundai Kona electric SUV revealed

The new Hyundai Kona electric SUV promises to redefine the compact crossover segment, offering up to 470km worth of driving range, everyday convenience and nippy performance.

Unveiled before its official reveal at next week’s Geneva motor show, the electrified Kona has been confirmed for Australia, where it will land in showrooms before the end of 2018. It is part of Hyundai’s plan to launch 38 alternate-powered new vehicles by 2025.

The electric version bears strong resemblance with regular internal combustion members of the Kona clan, differentiating itself chiefly with a closed grille, where the car’s recharging outlet is positioned.

Under the skin resides a choice of two powertrains, depending on model.

A 39.2kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack supplies power to a 99kW electric motor in the entry-level version. It translates to a claimed driving range of up to 300km and a nought to 100km/h time of 9.3 seconds.

Higher up the food chain, the flagship’s 64kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack feeds power to a 150kW electric motor, offering a claimed 470km driving range a 7.6 second claimed dash to triple figures.

Hyundai says the both batteries can reach an 80 per cent state of charge in just 54 minutes when using DC power. In conventional AC power, the 39.2kWh battery takes 6hrs10min, the higher powered 64kWh battery 9hrs40min.

“By launching our All-New Kona Electric, we are pushing our ambitious eco car strategy forward. It's a car of no compromise - combining an SUV body type with electric-mobility. It represents Hyundai's progressive character,” said Hyundai Europe’s marketing vice president, Andreas-Christoph Hofmann.

Hofmann’s point speaks to the Kona’s new underlying platform, and its ability to specifically integrate battery packs without compromising interior space, according to Hyundai.

Inside resides a seven-inch “supervision cluster” which works with the car’s head-up display to project key driving and performance information. In addition, the electric version features a ‘shift by wire’ operation mode that allows the driver to adjust the intensity of the car’s regenerative braking system.

The Kona reinforces these traits with regular connectivity features including wireless charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

On the safety front, the electric Kona incorporates Hyundai’s regular SmartSense suite, bringing Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Collision Warning including Rear Cross Traffic Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Intelligent Speed Limit Warning and Lane Following Assist.

Speaking with journalists at an event this month, Hyundai Australia’s manager of future mobility and government relations, Scott Narger, said the Kona EV will likely be on sale Down Under by the end of 2018 - as a sub $50,000 offering.

“We think the time is right to introduce this kind of technology to consumers,” he said.

“We’re taking a great risk with IONIQ and Kona [EV] when we bring them in, and we’re hoping we don’t have to go through the same harsh learning as Nissan with the LEAF and Mitsubishi with the i-MIEV.

“But we welcome competition. We really want our competitors to be here. We want to give consumers choice, and when it comes to giving [consumers] a lot of different drivetrains, and options, [we believe] that competition drives innovation, and innovation drives our brand to try harder and make things better and cheaper and deploy them quicker.”

Keep an eye out for more details on the electric Kona when motoring.com.au covers its public debut in Geneva next week.