It was larger than the current model, according to our spy.
You can say what you like about the Hyundai Kona, it doesn’t look like your average crossover. Its quirky design can be a good thing or a problem depending on your opinion. With a facelift in late 2020, the site has been around since 2017. It’s no surprise that our spy team has now captured a prototype for the next generation of testing.
Although not uncommon, the second-gen Kona was seen riding on Autec wheels in Sweden, rather than an OEM set. The Hyundai Bayon has taken over the role of the entry-level, high-riding model. Although they are roughly equal in size, our spy tells us that the vehicle shown here is larger. This could mean Hyundai wants to seperate the two vehicles and avoid any overlaps that could lead to sales being lost.
The prototype features a combustion engine, as indicated by the exhaust tip hidden under the bumper on the passenger side. We expect hybrid and EV configurations to be available again. Unfortunately, we cannot speak for the Bayon as it is a gasoline-only vehicle. A section of what appears to be a small taillight can be seen through the mesh. It is tempting to think that there is another cluster lower than the Kona.
The Kona will still have split headlights at the front thanks to the separate cutouts in its camo. The redesigned grille is smaller than the original because the visible upper camo has been applied to a portion of the bumper. This goes against the trend. Spy shots of the side profile show slightly larger wheel arches and an inside speaker/twitter mounted on the A-pillar.
Hyundai will not reveal the new Kona soon due to its thick camouflage. We believe the new small crossover will debut in late 2022 or early next. It would be great if South Korean brands could bring the cute, tiny Casper outside of their home markets.