Hyundai Kona N Debuts As A Track-Capable Crossover With Up To 286 HP
Hyundai’s N sub-brand has been a hit with enthusiasts, but its appeal has been limited due to a lineup that consists of the i20 N, i 30 N and Veloster N. All three are cars and consumers want crossovers. Hyundai is now acknowledging the obvious as they’ve taken the wraps off the all-new Kona N. Set to become the first N crossover, the model promises to provide a “winning combination of versatility, spirited acceleration, agility and racetrack readiness.” Given its intentions, we’ll start under the hood where buyers will find a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 276 hp (206 kW / 280 PS) and 289 lb-ft (392 Nm) of torque. However, this can temporarily be increased to 286 hp (213 kW / 290 PS) by using the N Grin Shift function. The engine is connected to an eight-speed dual clutch transmission, which features a wet design as well as numerous modifications for high-performance use. Among the changes are specially-tuned gear ratios and a uniquely calibrated control unit that ...