2023 Hyundai Kona on aftermarket wheels spied in snowy Sweden
Say what you will about the Hyundai Kona, but it really does not look like your regular crossover. It can be both good and bad depending on where you stand on its odd design. Having been around since 2017, with a facelift launched at the end of 2020, it’s only natural that our spies have now immortalized a prototype of the next generation being tested.
The second generation Kona was seen in Sweden driving on Autec wheels rather than an OEM set, which is not necessarily an unusual sight, but a bit unusual nonetheless. It is no longer Hyundai’s cheapest crossover in Europe where Bayon has taken on the role of the entry-level model for high-speed riding. They are both about the same size, but our spies tell us that the vehicle in the picture here is larger. This may mean that Hyundai wants to separate the two and avoid a potential overlap that could cannibalize sales.
16 Photos
The prototype has an internal combustion engine designated with the exhaust tip tucked under the bumper, on the passenger side. Hybrid and EV configurations will probably be available again, which we can not say about Bayon as it is only a petrol business. Looking through the net disguise is part of what looks like a small taillight. We are tempted to believe that there is a separate cluster mounted lower, similar to the current Kona.
At the front, separate recesses in the camo suggest the cone will continue to have split headlights. Contrary to the trend, the remanufactured grille appears to be smaller as the visible upper camouflage is applied to part of the bumper. The spy pictures that show the side profile reveal a slightly more angular wheelhouse and a speaker / twitter mounted inside the A-pillar.
Due to the thick camouflage, it is unlikely that Hyundai will unveil the new Kona soon. Our guess is that the little crossover will premiere at the end of 2022 or the beginning of next year. Now, if the South Korean brand could launch the adorable pint of Casper outside its home market, it would be cool …