2018 Hyundai Kona Revealed – Iron Man (the Superhero) Special Edition Announced

By Steve & Tamami Laser

We love the outdoors and the island lifestyle and although we’re not exactly in the target market for Hyundai’s all-new Kona crossover (millennials), it fills our hearts with desire.

Why? Well, first there’s the name. Kona brings to mind Hawaii and coffee. We must admit we’re addicted to both. Then there’s the styling. It looks modern, rugged and trendy. We like the slim lights and big grille, and also the rugged “armor” (that used to be called cladding).

Hyundai is planning to offer a “Kona Iron Man Special Edition” that shares the name of Marvel’s superhero character. “The Kona’s design is inspired by the strong, armored appearance of the Iron Man suit, with its powerful lines echoing the sensual body of the comic and cinematic hero,” says Hyundai.

We haven’t seen a photo of this model, however it’s said to include special goodies like unique 19-inch wheels badged with the Iron Man Mask in the center caps, and a matte gray hood with red and gold accents. The special edition will go on display at Hyundai Motor’s Motorstudio in Seoul, Korea for a month following its global reveal says the automaker.

So what’s under the hood? Depending on the market, Hyundai plans to offer four engines for Kona: 2.0-liter gas and 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinders, a 1.0-liter turbo 3-cylinder for Europe, and a 1.6-liter diesel for a variety of markets (not likely for the U.S.).

Riding on a new platform, Hyundai says Kona has a strut front suspension and different rear setups for front- and four-wheel-drive versions. The former gets a torsion beam while the latter sports dual-arm multi-link.

Hyundai plans to offer a suite of driver assist systems including Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, High Beam Assist and Driver Attention Warning (maybe there should be an emergency supply of Kona coffee in the glovebox for long drives?).

Hyundai has not yet released photos of the Kona’s interior, yet some of its available equipment includes “floating” style display screens up to 8-inches, Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®, 4G telematics, wireless charging and a Head-Up Display.

While we live on the mainland, our hearts and minds are often filled with memories from Hawaiian vacations. Imagine being able to go to Kona every day. Instead of a five-hour airplane ride, we could make the journey to Kona in just a few steps to our carport.

Hyundai says the Kona will go on sale in Korea later this month. Future launches are also planned for North America and Europe.

News source and photos courtesy of Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Company. Product features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Story (commentary) © 2017 CarNichiWa.com