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    2023 Hyundai Kona New Gen Debuts – Petrol, Hybrid, Electric

    Current gen Kona EV that is on sale in India gets a 39.2 kWh battery pack – It is likely to be replaced by the end of 2023FrontHyundai has pulled the curtains off its Kona lineup today. 2023 Kona consists of four variants. Company says that the design across its lineup was EV-derived and is futuristic in its appeal. It brings Kona to Hyundai’s new design language that we have witnessed on some of its recent products.Even though all four variants are based on the same universal structure, they get distinct styling to distinguish among themselves. By offering a variety in its powertrain offerings, 2023 Hyundai Kona lineup stresses sustainable mobility. There is a lot of technology-led design thinking inspired by its successful Ioniq 5.All New Hyundai Kona 2023Hyundai is offering the Kona lineup in four different variants with varied styling. We have the regular Kona with an internal combustion engine, Kona HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and sporty Kona N Line and lastly, Kona EV. Earlier, Hyundai Kona EV was spied testing with heavy camouflage at Desert Hills Premium Outlet in California, USA.SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Design Center, said on the occasion that “Upscaled with KONA’s unique character, the all-new KONA confidently expresses its bold and dynamic presence,”. He further added that “KONA has evolved in every respect to embrace an even wider range of diversity, to become a true lifestyle supporter.”InteriorIn a mission to carve more space for customers, the all new Hyundai Kona lineup has grown significantly. At 4,355 mm in length, it is now 150 mm longer and 25 mm wider than its predecessor. Even the wheelbase has been increased by 60 mm to offer better knee room for rear passengers. Combining all these, the new model should be a lot more spacious than its predecessor.Hyundai says that they started with the Kona EV first and then transferred its design and transformed it to suit other variants in the lineup. Front fascia is now brand new and features a horizontal light bar that doubles as DRL and below it arranged in a triangular-like housing, LED headlights.Features & SpecsKona EV gets a new Pixelated Seamless Horizon Lamp which has dot patterns instead of the parametric grill design found on Kona and Kona N Line. It gets body cladding all around and has an effect of housing its headlights and taillights in this very cladding. Side skirts and 19” alloy wheels are offered based on variants.All New Hyundai Kona LineupOn the inside, 2023 Hyundai Kona gets dual 12.3” horizontal displays. One for infotainment and the other for the driver’s instrument cluster. Other features include a single-pane sunroof, auto-dimming IRVM, ADAS, and a lot more. Powertrain specs for both Kona EV and the rest are not yet revealed. Hyundai will divulge further information in the coming months. More

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    2024 Hyundai Kona Electric SUV Spied For The First Time – New Gen

    Hyundai Kona EV on sale in India is the pre-facelift 1st gen Kona – Global market has the facelifted 1st gen Kona on offer2024 Hyundai Kona EV Spied – Front ProfileKia and Hyundai combined, are underdogs that will soon match the might of Tesla and BYD in the future. Hyundai has been developing strategic products to compete with well-established EV giants. The South Korean company is also taking on current hottest EV in the world, Tesla Model 3 with upcoming Ioniq 6.Hyundai and Kia are eyeing large electric SUVs too, as we recently saw Kia EV9 under testing and will soon be followed by Hyundai Ioniq 7. 1st gen Hyundai Kona EV facelift is already sold in some markets. The company is also testing 2nd gen Kona EV based on 2nd gen ICE-powered Kona which is also under testing.2024 Hyundai Kona Electric SpiedFor starters, these test mules were spotted just outside of Hyundai / Kia technical centre in Germany. The test mules for Kona EV are almost identical to test mules of regular ICE-powered Kona. But with keen eyes, they can be distinguished from each other even under heavy camouflage.First, Kona EV test mules get a square openable pocket which is presumably for the charging port. 1st generation Hyundai Kona EV which was also launched in India, had a charging port at the front and in the same location too. Hyundai Kona EV facelift based on ICE-powered Kona facelift, also had the charging port at the same spot.2024 Hyundai Kona EV Spied – Side ProfileThis Kona EV facelift was not launched in India. This suggests that the 2nd gen Kona EV will be based on an updated platform of its 1st gen. Second, if we look at the rear, there is no exhaust pipe visible. Like, obviously. Hence, confirming that the latest Kona test mule is in fact, an EV.What Can We Expect?Less camouflaged ICE-powered Kona test mules have been spotted globally. It sports a full-width LED lightbar at the front as seen on other Hyundai products like Staria and Stargazer. It is also likely to get a trapezoidal-shaped LED headlight in its bumpers. Grille on ICE-powered Kona 2nd gen will be closed off for that typical EV appeal that we also see in MG ZS EV.It will also get body cladding all around and Ioniq 5 inspired minimalist interiors. In terms of powertrains, Hyundai is mum on this matter. But as Kona EV is expected to be similar to Kia Niro EV, we can expect the same motor and battery to be shared. Kia Niro EV gets a 200 bhp electric motor which draws power from a 64.8 kWh battery.Kia Niro EV can cover a claimed 463 km of range on a single charge with this relatively large battery. But Hyundai can also offer a smaller battery with a less powerful motor which will eek out a similar range on base variants. We say this because that’s similar to what we got in India with the first gen Kona EV. India launch isn’t confirmed yet, but we still have a long time as it is expected to hit global markets in 2024. Apart from ZS EV, it will also rival upcoming new SUVs from Tata and Mahindra.Source More

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    Hyundai Kona Electric Vs Creta Petrol, Diesel – Cost After 80k Kms

    Hyundai Kona Electric owner has spent a total of Rs 2.07 lakh on charging and maintenance of his carHyundai Kona ElectricWhile electric vehicles (EVs) are the future of mobility, their high purchase cost prevents them from penetrating into the mass market. However, EVs ace their IC engine counterparts when it comes to running costs. It is no hidden fact that fuel prices have seen an exorbitant rise in the past few months.Many people have already started to make the transition from petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to emission-free battery-powered vehicles. In the passenger vehicle space, Hyundai Kona Electric was one of the first electric cars to be introduced in India. Team-BHP member ADI7YAK has shared interesting details on the expenses incurred for charging and maintaining Hyundai Kona Electric vs that of a Creta Petrol or diesel after driving 80,000 kms.Hyundai Kona Electric Charging CostCharging cost of Hyundai Kona Electric – For 80,000 kmsHyundai Kona EV owner has shared that he has owned a Kona EV for twenty months which recently clocked 80 thousand kilometers. He has provided a detailed cost breakup of owning and maintaining the car and a rough calculation of how much money he has saved in comparison to petrol automatic and diesel automatic cars of a similar size and price.Owner of Kona EV mentions that in order to achieve 80,000km on the odometer, a total of 11 megawatts of electricity were used. This includes both public and home charging setup. For this, the owner had to spend a total cost of Rs. 91480. Around 90 percent of the charging was done via home charging while the rest were done from public charging stations.Charging cost of Hyundai Kona Electric – For 80,000 kmsHe further mentions that public chargers are more expensive but also quicker than standard home wall chargers. Getting into more details, the owner reveals that he has spent around Rs 18,500 on maintaining his car which includes regular service and other wear and tear items such as wiper blades, bulbs, etc. By his standards, this amount is very cheap.Charging cost of Hyundai Kona Electric – For 80,000 kmsThe highest cost of maintenance Rs 47,800 was incurred by a change in tyres which were replaced after 50,000km. After taking into account each and every cost attached, the owner reported an average running cost of Rs 1.37 per km. This was compared against the running cost of petrol- and diesel-powered Creta.Cost Comparison With Diesel, Petrol-powered CretaAfter collecting data from Creta owners, the Kona EV user came to realise that Creta petrol automatic owners would have to spend almost around Rs 7.00 lakh for the car to clock 80,000 km on its odometer. In case of a Creta diesel automatic, it would be around Rs 5.41 lakh. Both these figures are much greater than Rs 91,480 spent by the Kona EV user on electricity.Maintenance cost of Hyundai Kona Electric – For 80,000 kmsTherefore, savings in case of Kona EV stands at Rs 6,08 lakh and Rs 4.50 lakh when compared with petrol- and diesel-powered Creta. Top-end petrol variant of Creta costs Rs. 21.16 lakh while its diesel-powered counterpart would cost Rs 21.65 lakh. On the other hand, Kona EV costs Rs 25.3 lakhs. Therefore, for a total distance of over 80,000km, the additional cost of an EV is compensated and savings begin.Hyundai Kona Electric Vs Creta Petrol, Diesel and HexaSource More

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    Hyundai Kona Electric Owners Affected By Recall – Get Their Car Back After 2 Month Wait

    Image – Akhil Krishnan
    The shift to electric is inevitable, but new challenges are emerging for EV makers

    A recent example is that of Hyundai Kona, which had to undergo a large-scale recall across the globe. The recall was extended to India last year, applicable for Kona units manufactured between the period April 2019 to October 2020. Hyundai had sold a total of 456 units during this period, all of which were covered under the voluntary recall notice.
    Kona battery issue
    Kona recall was carried out to check potential issues with the car’s high-voltage battery management system (BMS). Some users had reported that their Kona would stall after a warning on the MID that asks them to check electric vehicle system. In such cases, most owners had to get their Kona towed to the service centre.
    There were conflicting reports as well, wherein a user had said that the problem could be fixed by restarting the engine. However, even if true, such temporary solutions cannot be expected to be the norm for a premium EV like Kona.
    An expensive recall
    Customers in India have started getting back their Kona after spending several weeks at the workshop. It’s taking longer to patch up the EV, as the entire battery unit is being replaced by Hyundai. It’s not certain if all Kona units will have to undergo the same process, but a significant percentage will have to be updated in this manner.
    Hyundai Kona Electric delivered to owner after getting fixed
    Akhil Krishnan is one such owner, who recently got his Kona back after the fix said that Hyundai has replaced the entire battery unit. His Kona had to spend two and a half months at the service centre while it was being fixed.
    Globally, around 76,000 Kona units are covered under the recall. This will make this recall an expensive exercise for Hyundai. The company has said that it will carry out all the needed updates completely free of cost.
    Recalls are not only expensive, but they also impact customer trust and confidence in an adverse manner. EVs are supposed to make things easier for users, but if there are persistent issues, it may prevent people from switching to electric.
    Hyundai Kona Electric battery replacement
    Kona specs
    Hyundai Kona electric gets its power from a 39.2 kWh Lithium-ion Polymer battery pack. Power is send to a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) that generates 136 ps and 395 Nm of torque. Kona has ARAI certified range of 452 km, which is the highest in its class. The range varies based on the drive mode selected – Eco, Comfort and Sport. Kona can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 9.7 seconds.
    In terms of safety, Hyundai Kona offers six airbags, vehicle stability management, hill start assist control, electronic stability control, virtual engine sound system for pedestrian safety and ISOFIX child seat mounts. More

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    Hyundai Kona Electric Recalled In India – Over Battery Fire Issues Reported Globally

    File Photo.
    Hyundai Kona competes with other electric crossovers such as MG ZS EV and Tata Nexon EV in India

    While electric vehicles (EVs) have already established a wide footprint in many international markets, Indian consumers are still warming up to the idea of vehicles running on batteries and electric motors. However, since its technology is relatively new to the automotive world, we often get to see many defects come across with regards to EVs.
    Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Tuesday stated that they will be recalling 456 units of its electric crossover Kona. The company added that the selected models have been manufactured between 1 April 2020 and 31 October 2020.
    Cause of recall
    The South Korean automaker added that it initiated a recall to inspect the problem with its high-voltage battery system in its electric crossover. This is in line with cases of Kona Electric catching fire recently. As many as 13 such incidents have been reported in overseas countries including one each in Canada and Austria. It is being speculated that the high voltage battery system in Kona might be the reason behind this fire.
    Hyundai has assured its customers that all defects will be checked and resolved free of cost. It further added that all Kona Electric owners will be notified about this in a phased manner after which customers can bring their cars to their nearest authorized Hyundai Electric vehicle dealers.
    Hyundai Kona getting charged at the PlugNgo electric car charging station in Delhi
    Other Cases of recall
    The safety recall has been deemed as a proactive response to a suspected defective production of high-voltage batteries used in the vehicles. Similar cases of recall might be issued in other countries where the electric UV is retailed.
    This is not the first time that Kona Electric has been issued a recall. Earlier this year, the brand had issued a recall in regards to software updates and battery replacements. This recall involved Kona electric crossover manufactured between September 2017 and March 2020.
    Batteries used in Kona Electric are made by LG Chem Ltd. LG said that it has conducted a joint experiment with Hyundai to recreate fire but it did not. Therefore, the fire could not be attributed to faulty battery cells and so the exact cause of fire is yet to be known.
    Kona EV in India
    Hyundai launched its first EV offering in India in April 2019 at a price of Rs 23.7 lakh (ex-showroom). The electrified crossover UV is powered by a 39.2 kWh battery pack paired with an electric motor which results in an output of 135 Bhp and 395 Nm of peak torque.
    It has an ARAI certified single-charge driving range of up to 452 km. Using a simple home AC charger, it takes around 6-10 hours for batteries to get fully charged. On using a DC fast charger it takes around 57 minutes for the battery to juice from 0 to 80 percent. More

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    2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Facelift Debuts – To Go On Sale Next Year

    2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
    Hyundai Kona Electric carries on with the same set of powertrains offered in the pre-facelift model

    Electric cars have taken a sizeable portion of the passenger vehicle segment in global markets over recent years. With EV-related technology evolving at a rapid pace, we are seeing more and more electric cars come up in recent times. We have also witnessed demands for EVs rising due to their cheap running cost and powerful performances.
    Hyundai is one such brand that has found success globally with EV offering Kona Electric over the last couple of years. The Korean automaker has given a mid-life facelift to its most popular electric crossover for 2021 and is scheduled to go on sale in the United Kingdom early next year.

    Exterior Styling Updates
    2021 Kona Electric comes with a healthy dose of cosmetic upgrades both inside and outside its cabin and a host of technological updates as well. Its exterior witnesses the highest number of updates, the most dramatic of them being the revised front nose.
    The new grille gets a smooth nose cone which is starkly different from the radiator grille on the petrol-powered Kona thus distinguishing itself from the latter. This also lends a slight aerodynamic update over the pre-facelifted model.

    New Kona Electric also gets a redefined front bumper which receives a pair of vertical inlets that reduce the amount of turbulent air in the front wheel arches to minimise drag. This is complemented by fresh LED DRLs and a pair of redesigned LED headlights.
    The rear end is very much similar except for slightly reconfigured tail lamps. Black claddings on the old car are now colour-coded. In addition to five colours offered on the electric crossover, another five new paint schemes have been added to its palette.
    Interior & Feature Updates
    Interiors of 2021 Kona electric have seen a fair share of updates including a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system carried from the new-gen i20 and Tucson.

    The new infotainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Hyundai’s connected tech BlueLink which offers features such as Voice Activated Commands, remote climate control to preheat/precool the cabin and remote charging to benefit from off-peak energy rates.
    In addition, it receives new ambient lighting which complements the two-tone interior colour. Safety equipment too receives enhancements such as rear cross-traffic assistance, safe exit warning, blindspot assistance and eCall which in the event of an accident automatically alerts emergency services.

    Powertrain
    Speaking of its powertrain, there is no change in this department. The facelifted model still receives two powertrain options- 39.2kWh battery pack paired with a 134 bhp motor and a larger 64kWh battery pack mated to a 201 bhp electric motor.
    The former claims a single-charge range of 189 miles and a top speed of 154.5 kmph while the latter claims a range of 300 miles and 167 kmph of top speed. The company will provide a 100kW fast-charger which could juice up the battery by 80 percent in just 47 minutes. More

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    Hyundai Kona Electric Recalled in US and Korea over Battery Fires

    A world-wide recall of Hyundai Kona electric is expected in due course

    Incidents of electric cars catching fire are more common than they should be. The temperature dependence of battery packs, dynamically varying load demand, complex chemicals and several other factors make the battery and other electrical and electronic systems in a modern day electric car very sensitive and potentially volatile.
    While the highly sophisticated battery management system ensures things are kept well within limits, there still are some instances where an EV finds itself in an unfavourable circumstance and before you know it, it’s up in flames.
    Hyundai Kona electric recall
    According to Reuters, South Korea’s transport ministry has issued a statement confirming that Hyundai will voluntarily recall Kona electric in the country over a possible short circuit which could pose a fire risk. It is being reported that neither Hyundai, nor the battery supplier LG Chem were able to ascertain the exact cause of the Kona electric’s reported fire incidents so far.
    Hyundai Kona electric is also sold in India – but there is no update regarding recall for India-spec Kona EV yet.
    Worldwide, there have been thirteen reported incidents of fire involving the South Korean electric compact crossover including one each in Canada and Austria. Speaking about the voluntary recall, Hyundai said, it is a “proactive response to a suspected defective production of high-voltage batteries used in the vehicles, which may have contributed to the reported fires.” The OEM added that it will work towards identifying the cause of the fire and address customers’ needs.
    Following the announcement in Korea, Hyundai has initiated a filing for voluntary recall process in the US with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is being reported that the recall will cover vehicles manufactured between September 2017 and March 2020. Over 100,000 units of the Hyundai Kona electric have been sold worldwide.
    Responding to the potential fire risk, LG Chem stated that the reenactment experiment conducted jointly with Hyundai did not lead to fire and hence it could not be attributed to faulty battery cells. However, the battery giant acknowledged that exact cause of the fire could not be determined. LG also stated that it will actively participate in further investigation with the OEM to identify the actual cause of the fire.
    Will there by a worldwide recall including in India?
    With the cause not determined, every Hyundai Kona electric on the road across the world should be considered as a potential fire hazard. The company is expected to announce a comprehensive recall program covering all the markets including India in due course. The fix is likely to involve a software upgrade, inspection and replacement, if necessary, of the battery pack.
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    Hyundai Kona Electric Rally Spec To Produce An Insane 800 bhp

    Paddon Rallysport’s champion rally driver Hayden Paddon has said that the Hyundai Kona Electric for the race track should be ready in the coming months
    The company plans to develop one prototype for the race-specific model and make it operational by next month. If everything goes as per plan, it will undergo complete public evaluation and development by December this year. The ultimate goal of the company is to make use of this high-performance fully electrified Kona for the New Zealand rally Championship next year and other races henceforth.
    Details of the Project

    The project was announced last year by Paddon in order to give New Zealand’s motorsport community a global reach. The Kona Electric Rally spec is being developed jointly by Hyundai New Zealand and Paddon Rallysport with assistance from Yes Power, University of Canterbury and STARD, which is an Austrian motorsport team working on electric rallycross vehicles and part of the Stohl Group.
    Paddon Rallysport recently unveiled the aftermarket suspension setup to be used in this Kona Electric rally version. The company had partnered with Italian aftermarket automotive manufacturer- Extreme Racing Shox in developing the custom made suspension setup. Thanks to this new suspension, the rally-spec Kona Electric sits very low as compared to the standard road-specific model. It also is heavier than the regular model.

    At the start of manufacturing the rally-spec Kona Electric, the car was dismantled to its last bit and later reassembled to form an electric car. The process saw a big delay in April and May this year when the Covid-19 pandemic hit hard and was at its peak in New Zealand.
    This made them cut their budget so that no member had to be dropped from their team due to this crisis. The team is back on track and is confident of completing the prototype ahead of next year’s New Zealand Rally Championship although they are likely to miss the first few rounds.
    Mechanical Details
    By June this year, the cage and chassis were almost ready with the transmission and motors to be incorporated next. The battery arrived at its expected time in July when most of the car was ready. As for the body-kit, Haydon had revealed that they will be using carbon to manufacture it. By early 2021, the team expects the custom Kona Electric to be doing hill ascents and short sprints.
    A total of four motors can be packed on the rally car, each of them capable of generating around 300 PS of power. In the rally though, a twin motor setup will be employed which would be generating nearly 600 bhp of power. However, for the short runs and hill ascents, all four battery packs could be used to give a power of around 800 bhp. Paddon is also expected to get behind the wheels of the Kona Electric during the rallies. More