Second-generation compact electric SUV loses 140Nm to “improve driveability and efficiency”
Most details of the second-generation 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric have been revealed ahead of its Australian release later this year, and the big news is the all-new battery-powered small SUV will bring bi-directional charging capability, more range and extra power – but less torque.
As we’ve reported, EV and hybrid versions of the new Hyundai Kona – which was revealed last December and detailed last month – aren’t scheduled to land Down Under until the fourth quarter of 2023 – roughly four to five months after the combustion versions.
The new model will pick up where the current one leaves off with two different battery capacities available – Standard Range and Long Range – depending on consumer requirements and budgets.
Standard Range variants will be powered by a 48.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a single electric motor good for 115kW/255Nm, marking a 5kW improvement over its predecessor in terms of power but a big 140Nm reduction in torque.
The significant increase in battery capacity (up from 39.2kWh) and reduced motor torque should yield a noticeably improved driving range compared to the current Standard Range, but Hyundai is yet to publish an official or even expected driving range for the entry-level zero-emissions powertrain.
It has nominated a WLTP-estimated range of 490km for the gutsier Long Range system (up 6km), which predictably ups the ante with a new 65.4kWh battery and more powerful 160kW/255Nm motor.
Like the Standard Range though, the flagship electric powertrain’s power bump (+10kW) is offset by a 140Nm drop in maximum torque – something Hyundai said was done “to improve driveability and efficiency”.
Still, the outputs are broadly in line with those of the closely related Kia Niro Electric (150kW/255Nm) and therefore don’t come as too much of a surprise.
Both systems’ charging capabilities are yet to be detailed in full for the local market, but the preliminary specs released today claim the new Kona EV can be charged from 10-80 per cent in 41 minutes when using a DC fast-charger.
All variants will come with vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, which is now offered by many EVs and PHEVs and in this case can be accessed by interior and exterior power outlets.
But they will also come with bi-directional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging capability, joining vehicles like the Nissan LEAF EV, Mitsubishi Outlander and Eclipse Cross PHEVs and the upcoming Polestar 3 and VW ID.3 EVs in offering V2G capability – once approved in Australia and facilitated by a bi-directional wallbox.
The second-gen Kona’s standout features including an in-depth look at its new bigger and bolder exterior, more advanced and spacious interior and all its SUV-specific goodies were outlined by carsales at its global reveal earlier this year, however, EV versions have an extra trick up their sleeve.
Thanks to the compact nature of the battery-electric drivetrain, the new Kona Electric offers an extra 27 litres of storage under the bonnet, taking total cargo storage – boot and frunk combined – to 493 litres (VDA) and marking a drastic improvement of 161L compared to the current model.
If you missed our previous coverage, the local Kona range is yet to be priced or detailed in full, but headline equipment for the Electric line-up will comprise dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays, 12-inch head-up display, battery preconditioning system, active air flaps, IONIQ 5-style shift-by-wire gear selector and the latest Hyundai SmartSense safety suite offering Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities.
That chic new exterior has a drag coefficient of just 0.27Cd thanks to the second-gen Kona being developed first and foremost as an EV, says Hyundai.
Hyundai Motor Company president and CEO Jaehoon Chang said the new Kona would play a major role in reinforcing Hyundai’s EV leadership alongside the flourishing IONIQ portfolio.
“The new model builds on the great reputation of the first-generation Kona Electric and is designed and engineered to lead the competition with its many outstanding features,” he said.
Question marks still surround the second coming of a rabid Hyundai Kona N, but rumours of an N-spec Kona Electric have been swirling ever since the Korean car-maker revealed the raucous N 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine will be killed off in the near future.
That’s still a while off yet, but we’ll get our first full course of Hyundai’s electric high-performance recipe early next year in the form of the IONIQ 5 N – most of the impressive hardware in which we sampled last year in the Hyundai RN22e prototype.
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Keyword: New Hyundai Kona Electric detailed