Hyundai introduces 2019 Kona Electric to the U.S.

Hyundai showed the Kona Electric in Europe, but it\'s coming here.

Hyundai's announcements at the New York International Auto Show were essentially re-treads, but the U.S. debut of the Kona Electric carries more significance than that of the Santa Fe.

The announcement was a "when" (rather than an "if") as it was plainly obvious that Kona's global role would trickle down to its more niche variants, but the introduction of the Kona Electric concept to the U.S. market coincides with our first look at the company's plans for introducing it State-side.

The Kona Electric will debut as a 2019 model with an initial launch in the larger EV markets--California, then eventually the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast.

While ROW markets get two different powertrain choices for the Kona Electric, America will get just one. The unit boasts 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque, achieving acceleration of 7.6 seconds from zero to 62 mph and a range of over 250 miles (equivalent to 292 miles on the European system) thanks to a 64-kWh battery pack.

Introductions to EV markets will begin late this year, with deliveries beginning in the aforementioned EV-heavy markets in Q4.

Photo by Ronan Glon.