Hyundai Motor has revealed its
upcoming compact SUV will be named Kona, after the coastal region in Hawaii,
USA. Kona is a renowned destination for thrill-seeking travellers and reflects
the adventurous spirit of Hyundai Motor’s newest SUV, set to launch in the
summer of 2017.
The imminent arrival of Kona marks Hyundai
Motor’s bold first move into the B-SUV segment and leads the wider expansion of
its SUV range. The Kona name continues Hyundai’s tradition of naming crossover
and SUV models after acclaimed travel destinations – notably the Creta, Santa
Fe, Tucson and Veracruz – with the new compact SUV reflecting many of the
lifestyle attributes of the desirable Kona district on the Big Island of
Hawaii.
The Hawaiian destination is valued by North
Pacific adventurers as a base for many thrill-seeking activities, including
surfing, water skiing and scuba diving, among other extreme sports. The
island’s energetic image is reflected in the innovative, practical and highly
functional design of Hyundai’s new lifestyle-focused SUV.
The Kona has also been developed with a focus
on enhancing driving dynamics, as Hyundai looks to set new performance
standards for the compact SUV segment. KONA delivers best-in-class interior
space and innovative design features that hint at the future direction of the
brand's next generation of SUV models.
The name of the Kona district – located on the
western coast of the Big Island of Hawaii – is itself derived from an ancient
Hawaiian language. As well as being a perfect location for extreme sports, the Kona
area is internationally renowned for growing globally recognized premium coffee
beans, considered by many to be among the world’s best.