[Mainia1]

REALLY bad news. I messaged the guy who did this video on the Kona N and he had access to it and said he looked underneath it and said it was 2WD. I cant see it being this far along and having them add AWD this late in the testing. Well Hyundai is going to lose some sales on that stupid choice IF it is accurate. I will just get a Golf R then. One sale lost.

 

[BionicCommando]

Just because one model they sent to be tested against a Porche is FWD, does that mean every single model is going to be just FWD? That doesn't make sense to me. They've always had both FWD and AWD models since inception. I certainly wouldn't send an AWD to test for speed against another vehicle.

 

[BeVigilant]

Since Hyundai releases Kona series FWD as a base model while AWD is an optional, I think we still have a chance to see AWD when it fully releases.

Kona N's competitors lke T-roc, SQ2, GLA AMG have AWD option and it'll miss the market big time if they release it with FWD only and I don't believe Hyundai is not seeing it either.

 

[Mainia1]

Just because one model they sent to be tested against a Porche is FWD, does that mean every single model is going to be just FWD? That doesn't make sense to me. They've always had both FWD and AWD models since inception. I certainly wouldn't send an AWD to test for speed against another vehicle.

On a race track you certainly would want to send an AWD race car against a 2wd race car. AWD is a game changer in the corners. It starts at a good point in the video, watch it for 14 minutes.

 

[rcheli32]

In a performance situation I think they will stick with the 2wd, it has out performed the AWD in track conditions. You could no doubt create situations where the AWD was worthwhile if everything was tuned right, but in a fairly production car the 2wd seems sufficient and lighter.

 

[Squirlz]

On a race track you certainly would want to send an AWD race car against a 2wd race car. AWD is a game changer in the corners. It starts at a good point in the video, watch it for 14 minutes.

Those were awesome race cars! But that's an AWD system designed for performance. On most street cars it's just for inclement weather.

 

[Mainia1]

Those were awesome race cars! But that's an AWD system designed for performance. On most street cars it's just for inclement weather.

Yes, they have Torsen diffs, but light duty, bias front AWD helps big time. Any load and the AWD system come on and if in Sport mode you get 95%/5% even if you are driving a steady 65 mph with no load. Hit the gas and you get up to 50% to the rear. Still a game changer in high performance driving. The common Kona has an open front diff in AWD. What would amazing would be a LSD in the front of say a Kona N AWD and have that AND rear input. Any way you look at it, it helps out in so many corners. I get semi pushed through corners with AWD enabled vs mega understeer with an open diff a FWD car would get.

 

[El Comandante]

Lots of speculation on this thread. Nobody knows. “Some guy told me...” is hearsay.
It would be foolish from a competitive and target marketing perspective to delete the AWD option.

They will cause buyers who own AWD to pass on the N, they’ll lose out pulling buyers from competitors, and they will compete against their own 1.6t w AWD.

There will be an AWD simply to drive maximum market penetration.
All the track characteristics and talk are irrelevant because this is a stock street application product.

 

[Mainia1]

Lots of speculation on this thread. Nobody knows. “Some guy told me...” is hearsay.
It would be foolish from a competitive and target marketing perspective to delete the AWD option.

They will cause buyers who own AWD to pass on the N, they’ll lose out pulling buyers from competitors, and they will compete against their own 1.6t w AWD.

There will be an AWD simply to drive maximum market penetration.
All the track characteristics and talk are irrelevant because this is a stock street application product.

You do know Hyundai said straight out that they were going to put in the EXACT drivetrain the Veloster N had, 2WD. We can wish all we want. Even Top Gear with their connections with Hyundai reps, in a recent article said 2WD only. The Youtuber who filmed that track testing of the Kona N actually looked under it. You can discount his credibility, I don't. There could vary well be both FWD and AWD for test purposes. But being so late in the testing he saw a 2WD version. You would think if it was AWD that would be the one testing so late in testing.

I doubt they would have 2 versions with such a small sales volume slot with a semi track car would have. I think one version will be available FWD or AWD. Time will tell . I am wishing with you, but the odds are 70% not, 30% with I would say. In a couple plus weeks we will hear what Europe will get as far a concrete specs. Then we will have the answer.

 

[El Comandante]

Until Hyundai comes out publicly to the US market what the specs will be nobody knows. Test cars... mean nothing. There are alpha, beta, and MVP versions of all new releases. The testing is just that, testing. Not a final version.

I’ll believe whatever Hyundai says. When they say it. Not what a photographer or guy that looked under a test car covered up w front and rear bra’s says.

 

[Mainia1]

Until Hyundai comes out publicly to the US market what the specs will be nobody knows. Test cars... mean nothing. There are alpha, beta, and MVP versions of all new releases. The testing is just that, testing. Not a final version.

I’ll believe whatever Hyundai says. When they say it. Not what a photographer or guy that looked under a test car covered up w front and rear bra’s says.

Just to be clear, the guy did not look at badges, he looked for a rear diff, and the rear diff was not there. Time will tell if Hyundai made the smart choice, or the cost cutting stupid choice.

 

[El Comandante]

I don’t understand why if the 1.6t offers AWD why wouldn’t they offer it on the N?

If they found value of AWD for one Kona model(s) why would they delete that as an option on their most premium trim?

Nobody is that stupid.

 

[Bebop]

Maybe the current AWD system is not capable of the extra HP? It will probably be available the 2nd Gen Kona?


it doesn't make sense without AWD. I can get other N badged FWD Hyundai.

 

[Mainia1]

That's what I said when I heard Hyundai saying the Kona N will have the EXACT same drivetrain as the i30 N/Veloster N, as a 2WD car. I am with you on why show the Kona N in the woods and dirt road in a advertising video. Why keep it lifted too high unless it has AWD. That is where I hold hope they made it AWD, but verbally they stated and hinted thru others 2WD. We have a late model test mule seen and verified in 2WD form. Not set in stone, but man Hyundai is not showing it's cards at all. And why hold those cards when clearly pushing AWD and letting that cat out of the bag would be a positive. I have written emails to advertising and N development staff at their Calif design center, and they are radio silent. I stated we have real people here that will not buy a 2WD Kona N and we have people here waiting with money waiting to buy an AWD Kona N. I sure hope you guys made the right choice because we are seeing factory Kona N test mules out there in verified 2WD variants. It will be a said day for all of us, IF you chose the Kona N to be 2WD.

 

[Mainia1]

Maybe the current AWD system is not capable of the extra HP? It will probably be available the 2nd Gen Kona?


it doesn't make sense without AWD. I can get other N badged FWD Hyundai.

The Kia Sportage has basically a 2.0 liter 250 hp AWD system for years and it is not the case. Our rear diffs viscous coupler in our now AWD Kona's can handle 900-1,000 ft lbs of torque as per the viscous coupler manufactures website. I don't know about the rear diff or transfer case actual pinion/ring gears.

The other thing there is, is a manufacturing issue we may not be taking into account. Does Hyundai want to make an 8 speed DCT trans in AWD transfer case configuration NOW, for a couple of cars?????? Is Hyundai willing to invest in the N series and advance it to AWD? Again, we just have to wait it out and see if this is a large blunder or the right move. Will they sell enough $35,000 Hyundai Kona N's to justify at this point right now being the first AWD smallest crossover SUV.

The Hyundai Tucson ( Rav4 look alike) gets the 2.5T and AWD, So does this new 8 speed DCT for the 2.5 T have a larger bell housing with the 2.5 T that doesn't mate up with the 2.0 liter block and that is why the Kona is speced to only be 2WD? Because would a small run of a limited production specialty cars justify a newly designed transmission to fit a limited run smaller engine? Maybe not, hence 2WD only. I just don't see a 2.5T being put into a Kona N.

 

[El Comandante]

I hope they give you a response. They risk some buyers deciding not to wait and purchase from competitors. Just sayin.

 

[Mainia1]

I hope they give you a response. They risk some buyers deciding not to wait and purchase from competitors. Just sayin.

It's been about 3 weeks and 2 weeks with 2 emails to 2 top guys at the same time so "they" talk about it with the other. Dead silence.

 

[Coo1rim]

If the Chassis is strong enough, Magna is able to help with AWD, N division in full focus for suspension tuning, it makes a lot of sense.

Magna spends crazy money on R&D...something Hyundai needs badly...

 

[El Comandante]

I think they’ve backed themselves into a corner. If the N features the 1.6t or 2.0t or 2.5t? Then AWD or 2WD? I believe it’s all related.

 

[BeVigilant]

비어만 야심작 고성능 'N' 7종 풀라인업 구축…아반떼·코나·투싼 N 출격

Not sure if this is 100% accurate news, but this is the latest Korean news I found today.
It basically says that Kona N will have a base model with 250hp/260lb-ft torque, 275hp with performance package, 6 speed manual transmission and optional 8 speed wet DCT, FWD based AWD, which is same as regular Kona and Kona N-line that are currently sold.