Hyundai had quite a field day in the United States on September 12. The Asian company's local operations alongside HATCI (Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc.) inaugurated the $51.4 million Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL) in Superior Township, Michigan, for example.
They, of course, said this was a new "world-class safety laboratory that will help enhance the safety of Hyundai vehicles" from mid-October when it becomes operational. Secondly, in honor of Hyundai's Hope On Wheels 25th anniversary, the company presented a special livery for the No. 33 Elantra N TCR driven by Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker of Bryan Herta Autosport.
The race car is preparing for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 240 Race on September 16, and Hyundai will donate $100 to Riley Hospital for Children for every single lap that has an Elantra N TCR as the leader. But that wasn't all. The South Korean automaker has finally shared (almost) all the juicy details about the second-generation 2024 Hyundai Kona lineup for the US market.
Unlike other automakers who joined NAIAS 2023's list of premieres, the South Korean carmaker chose to steal the spotlight from the Detroit Auto Show with its "innovative" 2024 Kona SUV as the local US presentation occurred in Baltimore, Maryland instead of Michigan. The second-generation Kona was first revealed in December 2022, and it took its sweet time before arriving in the US, obviously.
Luckily, we already know the regular Kona SUV's starting price – and there is no good news to be shared. The 2024 Kona SUV kicks off at no less than $30,650! Meanwhile, the outgoing 2023 Kona starts at just $22,140, which is more than $8k less! However, the silver lining is always there – the base 2023 Kona is the SE model, while the 2024 Kona starts directly with the N Line and Limited ($31,650) models. Alas, there is still a sizeable difference as the 2023 Kona N Line is $27,850 while the Limited is $28,950.
The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric, meanwhile, offers the contemporary Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, i-Pedal driving mode, a Smart Regenerative System, and Active Grille Shutters – though, unlike the ICE-powered Kona that's on sale now at US dealers, you will have to wait until fall to order a Kona Electric. The zero-emissions version comes with a long-range 64.8-kWh battery, and based on preliminary internal Hyundai tests, it will offer up to 260 miles (418 km) of driving range when the cells are fully charged.
After that, its DC fast charging capabilities will enable a 10 to 80% SoC recharge in around 43 minutes. Meanwhile, the standard battery's range is estimated at 197 miles – or 317 km. The quirky restyling is doubled with remixed proportions – Hyundai says the ICE-powered Kona models are 5.7-inch longer, an inch wider, and have a 2.3-inch wheelbase increase compared to the predecessors.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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