Hyundai Australia won’t confirm how close the currency conversion on the fresh New Zealand-launched electric Kona SUV is.
The “e-Kona” has been launched in Auckland with a base price of NZ$73,990, which according to xe.com converts to $67,300 Australian dollars, and NZ$79,990 (A$72,800) for the Elite variant.
Hyundai Australia declined to confirm what the electric Kona will cost retail customers when it goes on sale in dealerships from early 2019.
Public relations manager Guido Schenken says it’s, “Too early to talk pricing or really any details around Kona EV.”
Schenken confirms the first all-electric Hyundai SUV is “still on for late 2018 timing”.
The company’s local EV strategy will be revealed at the Ioniq EV launch in late September, where it will become clear whether Australia will receive the same model line-up as New Zealand, including the 64kWh battery (likely in Elite), with a 400km-plus range that DC rapid-charges to 80% in 73 minutes.
Andy Sinclair, Hyundai NZ managing director.
The e-Kona’s media launch will include a range-testing drive from Auckland (North Island) to Raglan, some 160km direct, before returning without charging, edging 380km.
Hyundai New Zealand general manager Andy Sinclair says the realistic driving range is important.
“The driving range of over 400km is really significant when considering a typical outdoors Kiwi lifestyle,” he says.
“We wanted to ensure that an owner in Auckland can head off for a weekend…and drive back to Auckland – all on a single charge.”
Hyundai NZ explains the likely cheaper 39.2kWh battery option is a possibility at a later stage.
E-Kona gets standard smartphone mirroring infotainment, Forward Collision
Charge Fox founder Tim Washington. Image: LinkedIn.
Avoidance Assist (Autonomous Emergency Braking), pedestrian detection, lane keeping and following assistance, and blind spot collision warning.
The first batch of 100 e-Konas has arrived in Drammen, Norway as of last week, with 20,000 expressions of interest and 7200 orders placed. Hyundai Norway only delivered half that amount – 2,300 vehicles – in the first half of 2018.
All Norweigan e-Konas come with the higher-output 64kWh battery pack and costs 325.900 krona, which converts to around A$49,000.
JetCharge and Charge Fox founder Tim Washington has acknowledged on LinkedIn this his Australian company will “be working with Hyundai in Australia to deliver the same outcome.”
100 electric Konas arrive in Norway.
