One year after its launch, the Kona N B-suv is back in the spotlight at the Hyundai Driving Experience event that the Korean manufacturer organizes in the major racetracks in Europe not only to make its 'N' sports range known and appreciated, but also to carry out a meritorious campaign to raise awareness of driving safety and the need to train drivers, especially if they get behind the wheel of high-performance models.
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Hyundai Kona N, racing look but without exaggeration
On the asphalt of the iconic Monza circuit, exactly on the long track that hosts the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, Kona N has demonstrated that it knows how to combine (an almost unique example in the B-suv segment) the versatility and comfort of one sport utility with the satisfying and exciting driving of a real sports car.
all with a list price of 42,800 euros.
This is because in developing the Kona N, Hyundai's engineers and designers have consistently applied the (winning) philosophy of the Korean manufacturer's racing department and what has previously been transferred to the other models of the racing 'family', i30 N, i30 Fastback N and i20 N united by the 'Fun-to-Drive' philosophy.
The occasion of the test on the Monza track, moreover with the precious advice of Gabriele Tarquini (the multiple champion who was an integral part of the success of the Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing division, where he entered in 2017 as chief test driver in the early stages of the project Hyundai i30 N TCR) therefore made it possible - even in difficult conditions, such as heavy rain - to evaluate the total freedom that had already emerged in road tests.
In other words, the uniqueness of this model which, thanks to the 2.0 T-GDI four-cylinder engine with 280 Hp and 392 Nm of maximum torque, allows you to obtain the maximum in terms of sporty driving thanks to the 8-speed N DCT transmission. oil with two separate clutches for faster gear changes.
Directly derived from racing, the N DCT gearbox makes possible the three exclusive functions N Power Shift, N Grin Shift and N Track Sense Shift.
The first (NPS) comes into play when the accelerator is pressed more than 90% automatically shifting to the next gear, to transmit maximum power to the wheels without reducing torque.
The sound of the 'bang' in the exhaust underlines that we are in the world of true sportiness.
With Launch Control and N Power Shift active, the Kona N can accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in just 5.5 seconds.
The N Grin Shift (NGS) function is a boot that further improves the performance of the engine and the DCT for 20 seconds and is activated via a button on the steering wheel while in N mode. A countdown is started with the missing seconds directly visible on the dashboard (can be re-inserted at least 40 seconds later).
A single button therefore offers an important advantage if you are looking for the best lap time on the track or when driving on the road, even for overtaking.
N Track Sense Shift (NTS), on the other hand, optimizes adaptive shifting for track driving, helping the driver to focus more on steering.
It recognizes when conditions are optimal for the track and activates automatically - driving like a professional driver - based on motorsport data combined with driver behavior.
To this Hyundai Kona N adds - as envisaged by the three pillars of the N model philosophy, namely 'cornering grip', 'sporty for every day' and 'racing performance' - a range of features optimized to maximize performance in all conditions. of road and track.
This is the case of the electronically controlled limited-slip differential e-LSD and the different modes of the Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
In this snappy 'real' 280 hp B-suv, the Traction Mode guarantees maximum traction in the most diverse road conditions, while the N Grin Control system offers five driver-selectable modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, N and Custom) that allow to customize the response of the Kona N to all needs.
A condition of complete freedom such as the Monza track then made it possible to evaluate functions such as Launch Control or Creep Off in their effectiveness, guaranteeing high capabilities on the track.
And it was precisely the fearsome curbs of the Brianza Autodrome that made it possible to positively evaluate both the layout and the angles of the front axle (which is not affected by abnormal stresses, even when all the torque is applied) and the great rigidity of the body.
The high-performance Pirelli P-Zero 235/40 R19 tires mounted on 19-inch forged alloy wheels that have been developed for the cars of the N brand contribute to the positive judgment on set-up, insertion precision and behavior even 'at the limit'. to offer maximum grip in all conditions.
