Hybrid, plug-in, electric, hydrogen. Hyundai chooses Amsterdam's green soul to tell the story of electrification at 360 degrees. And launches two new models, the Kona hybrid and the Ioniq electric.
On one side, the Kona Hybrid, a crossover already well received in its electric version, now returning in a new full hybrid version. On the other, the Ioniq Electric, the first saloon born exclusively in hybrid, plug-in and electric versions, now back in a more technologically advanced, connected and efficient guise. In short, Hyundai's journey towards ever more sustainable mobility is pressing ahead at pace, without any one technology taking precedence over another. Indeed, with Nexo, the hydrogen-powered SUV, the Korean manufacturer is exploring every avenue currently available to offer increasingly virtuous models in terms of emissions and consumption, with over 600,000 electrified models already sold. More than 75 per cent of the range – according to a statement from the manufacturer – will be electrified by 2020; by 2025, there will not be a single non-electrified model in Hyundai's line-up.
Hyundai chose to showcase not only its approach to electrified mobility, but also a corner of Amsterdam undergoing profound transformation. This is the Bijlmerbajes complex, the city's former prison, which closed in 2016 and is set to be transformed into a neighbourhood powered by renewable energy, dominated by the new Green Tower. The Bajes Kwartier, as the new green neighbourhood will be called, will feature a mix of uses connected by pedestrian bridges and cycle paths. Following the model of the vertical garden in Milan, one of the towers will be converted into a Vertical Park, a new symbol of Dutch urban agriculture.
Crossovers are growing ever more popular. They have stolen the limelight from estate cars and MPVs, and are now encroaching on the SUV segment, which is all too often bulky and oversized. The Kona Hybrid broadens Hyundai's offering in precisely this direction, arriving a few months after the electric version, which was named The Greenest Car in Switzerland and Car of the Year 2018 at the Next Green Car Awards in the United Kingdom. What does the Kona Hybrid bring that is new? A new powertrain and new technologies: connectivity services and advanced infotainment features.
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The Kona Hybrid is equipped with a 1.6 four-cylinder direct-injection petrol engine. Its 105 horsepower are added to the power provided by the electric motor (43.5 horsepower, 32 kW), fed by a 1.56 kWh lithium battery. This brings the maximum power output to 141 horsepower, ideal for urban use and longer journeys. Adopting a virtuous driving style in the Kona Hybrid is straightforward. All you need to do is follow the prompts from the Eco-driving assist system, which, among its various functions, includes a particularly useful one: it is called "coasting guide" and alerts the driver in advance (using navigation data) when it is necessary to slow down; this makes it possible to reduce fuel consumption and brake wear. A dedicated energy management system optimises battery efficiency by increasing or decreasing the intervention of the petrol engine as needed. The result is a pleasurable drive, aided by the 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which can be operated via the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.
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The connectivity innovations are interesting, enabling an ever-greater number of functions to be managed remotely. A 10.25-inch display capable of showing the driver and passenger two pieces of information simultaneously, voice command recognition, real-time information on weather, traffic, speed cameras, parking and points of interest, icons and widgets. In short, the Kona hybrid evolves and updates its previous features. The wireless smartphone charger and the head-up display — a small screen in front of the driver onto which journey information is projected — are also convenient additions.
The Kona Hybrid has always had a very comprehensive active safety package. This includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, adaptive cruise control that automatically maintains distance and speed (also active in traffic with brief stops), active lane keeping (which acts on the steering), a speed limit detector, a blind-spot monitor, a system to detect possible collisions during manoeuvres, and a driver fatigue detection system.
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The second Hyundai novelty is the Ioniq Electric, which returns revised and refined. Range increased to 311 kilometres thanks to the upgraded battery, with updated design, technology and connectivity. Make no mistake — there are no radical changes. But a host of small refinements have brought this model up to date. The battery grows from 28 to 38.3 kWh, with an energy capacity increase of 36 per cent. The on-board charger moves from 6.6 to 7.2 kW, with benefits in terms of charging times from a domestic supply. And if you are lucky enough (still a rarity in Italy) to have access to a 100 kW fast-charging system, it is possible to charge up to 80 per cent of the battery in under an hour. Four driving modes are available: Eco+, Eco, Comfort and Sport — solutions that make it easy to adapt driving style to the remaining range and type of journey. In this regard, the new Ioniq Electric also debuts a system that allows the driver to slow down without actually using the brakes: simply hold down the left paddle behind the steering wheel to exploit the full potential of regenerative braking.
The Ioniq Electric's cabin has changed little, but attention to detail and materials has improved. The innovative use of natural materials in the interior remains, with extensive use of recycled plastic combined with wood powder and volcanic stone for the inner door panels. Also noteworthy is the use of extracts from sugarcane in the headlining trim and floor mats, for better air quality inside the car. In addition, some of the paints used on the Ioniq's bodywork are produced using ingredients extracted from soybean oil. The external styling update is more noticeable, with a revised front end and new LED daytime running lights. The active safety updates — the so-called Adas — are more substantial, and what has already been said about the Hyundai Kona hybrid applies here too. The new Ioniq Electric is already available at dealerships.