More Hyundai SUVs coming

Introduction of the Kona, Hyundai’s first compact SUV, is just the beginning with the Korean giant set to introduce two more SUVs – including ‘green’ versions – by 2020.

Speaking at this week’s Kona launch in South Korea, Euisun Chung, Hyundai Motor Company’s Vice Chairman said an A-segment SUV, even smaller than the Kona, would be on-sale within three years, while a larger SUV to sit above the seven-seat mid-sized Santa Fe, was also coming.

“Our plan is to come up with an A segment SUV that is smaller than the Kona by 2020, and roll out an E segment SUV which is greater than Santa Fe,” Mr Chung said.

While tiny SUVs are most popular in emerging markets like India and China, and a Toyota LandCruiser-sized SUV would target North American buyers, there’s a good chance they will also make their way to Australia.

In fact a sub-compact SUV could be a replacement for the budget-priced Accent.

“Yeah, we’ll take it all,” Hyundai Australia Chief Operating Officer Scott Grant said. “A smaller entry level (SUV) would be terrific, and give us options for the i10 and i20 space (while) the Accent is ageing…

“Equally at the other end of market, the new Santa Fe arrives next year, as a slightly larger seven-seater, but to move to something above that and beyond would be terrific as well.”

Hyundai executives said a pure electric and possibly hybrid version of the Kona, with an expected range of 390km or more, will be introduced in 2018 - along with Hyundai’s first mainstream hydrogen vehicle - as the Korean brand pushes to produce more environmentally-friendly vehicles.

Hyundai has already introduced its three-pronged electrified iONIQ range and is promising almost half of 31 new Hyundai models expected to be rolled out by 2020 will be ‘green’.

“By 2020 we hope to have more than 14 green cars including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV,” Mr Chung explained. “We are also going to focus our R&D efforts on hydrogen and battery storage.”

“(Hyundai is) no longer just focusing on good car quality, we are very focussed on clean mobility… and connected mobility.”

Mr Scott confirmed an EV Kona, if available, was a chance for Australia.

“EV is an interesting strategy for us, and it’s obviously becoming more important,” he said. “The iONIQ is the first move into that space with hybrid, plug-in and EV becoming available in time.

“Yes, we would be interested (in an EV Kona) but from this point in time we don’t have any plan to launch it in Australia.”