Hyundai confirms launch details of sub-compact SUV Kona

Hyundai

's love affair with SUVs is all set to go a notch higher. The Korean auto maker has confirmed its upcoming and first sub-compact SUV will be named

Kona

- a coastal part of Hawaii.

In a global press release, Hyundai announced that the Kona is scheduled for a global launch in the summer of 2017 and the company is betting big on its debut in the B-SUV segment (compact SUV). While there is no word on when and if the car is coming to India, the company here has done remarkably well with the

Creta

since it was launched in 2015. Since, however, Maruti Suzuki's sub-compact SUV - Vitara Brezza - has stolen the limelight . The Kona then may well be a shot in the arm for the company which has been hinting at bringing in a sub-compact SUV for some time.

Hyundai had showcased the Intrado Concept at 2014 Geneva Motor Show. Kona is based on this.






Hyundai says the Kona has been developed with a 'focus on enhancing driving dynamics.' It promises to deliver '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 Kona is first likely to be rolled out on European roads, followed by Australia. Besides Vitara Brezza, the car - if and when launched in India - will take on Ford EcoSport. The imminent launch of Toyota's C-HR will turn the heat up in the Indian market.

The other SUVs in Hyundai's global stable include Tucson and Santa Fe - also named after geographical locations.

Read this story in Gujarati