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2021 Hyundai Kona facelift, Kona N Line teased

It's already the second best-selling model in its segment, but the 2021 Hyundai Kona looks set to debut an important facelift that could improve its standing with buyers.


The new look comes as no surprise, however, with recent spy footage of the anticipated Kona N hero offering a clear look at what we can expect.

From these images, we can see the entire front end of the 2021 Hyundai Kona will be touched by the styling wand.

 

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There's a new grille with a bold garnish that now extends up to sharp points beneath the high-mounted daytime running lights, and the lower bumper area and driving lights have also been redesigned.

Changes at the rear, again based on the spy footage, are expected to be less significant – although a refreshed bumper and tail-lamp internals will likely be on the cards.

 

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Importantly, these teasers also show that a sporting 2021 Kona N Line model will sit beneath the regular Kona models and the flagship Kona N, and we can likely expect the company's widely-used 150kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine to star.

According to Korean car enthusiast blog The Korean Car Blog (aptly named), the Kona N Line's engine will be an updated Smartstream version of the 1.6-litre engine, boosting power to 160kW.

If this is correct – and it may well be given the range of Smartstream updates rolling out – we will likely see the same unit in all future N Line models, although recent Australian government database filings suggest the i30 Sedan N Line will launch with the familiar 150kW tune.

Launch timing for the refreshed Kona and Kona N Line is still to be confirmed, although the company says it will reveal more details "in the coming weeks".

In Australia, the Kona is currently the second best-selling model in the small SUV segment with 6264 sales year-to-date (July figures, August still to come), trailing only the ASX on 7847 registrations. The Toyota C-HR rounds out the top three, with 5411 year-to-date sales.

For more on the Kona range, including our coverage of the coming Kona N, see our links below.

Below: a speculative rendering of the new-look Kona in N form

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