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Hyundai Kona Is Getting a Rowdy N Variant

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  • We spied the upcoming Hyundai Kona N testing on the Nürburgring.
  • We expect that the N variant of the Hyundai compact crossover will be powered by the same 275-hp turbocharged four-cylinder found in the Veloster N.
  • Expect the Kona N to be priced somewhere around $30,000.

One of our favorite things about our long-term Hyundai Veloster N is the way its exhaust shouts back at you when you shift at its 6750-rpm redline. It’s like someone is shooting a 12-gauge out the back. The Veloster is currently the only Hyundai that gets the full N treatment, though. But Hyundai has other cars, too, including the Kona compact crossover, and if that sounds boring, you might be excited that we spied an N variant testing on the Nürburgring.

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Brian Williams

The Hyundai Kona is currently available with two powertrain options. The SE and SEL models are equipped with a 147-hp four-cylinder paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the Limited and Ultimate models are powered by a 175-hp turbocharged four-cylinder mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. We expect that the Kona N will be powered by the same 275-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder found in the Veloster N that we love dearly.

The Kona test car we spied here is equipped with some serious dual-exit exhaust tips, making us hope the Kona N’s exhaust sounds similar to the Veloster N’s, which we said has “one of the best-sounding four-cylinder exhaust notes this side of a vintage Alfa.” And that’s saying something. It also has the same five-spoke wheels as the Veloster N, and we caught it driving on three wheels!

We expect to hear more about the Kona’s N variant soon, and we’re really hoping to hear about a manual transmission option, too. Expect the Hyundai Kona N to start at around $30,000, making it the same kind of performance bargain as the Veloster N.


Source: Motor - aranddriver.com


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