What happens when a compact crossover, like the Hyundai KONA, gets the treatment of the Korean automakers' N sports division? The result is the new Hyundai KONA N with 280 hp and a peak torque of 392 Nm packed into Hyundai's first sporty compact SUV. The car was created to deliver bold emotions and plenty of fun to feel like being on the race track every day.
The letter N was not chosen at random. In addition to graphically referencing the shape of a racing circuit chicane, the N is the initial of Namyang, the district in South Korea that is home to Hyundai's Global Research and Development Centre, and of the Nürburgring, the iconic circuit where the Korean group's Technical Centre is based and where the prototypes of their sportiest models, such as the KONA N, are tested.
P ZERO TYRES TAILOR-MADE FOR THE KONA N
The new Hyundai KONA N fits size 235/40R19 96 Y P Zero tyres, developed according to Pirelli's "Perfect Fit" strategy to enhance the sporty personality of the car while ensuring comfort for the driver.The P Zero tyres tailor-made for the N division are quiet and safe even in bad weather, as demonstrated by the A on the label certifying excellent braking performance on wet roads. A closer look at these tyres reveals the HN marking that identifies the design as specific for the Korean brand.
PIRELLI WITH THE N SPORTS DIVISION. ON TRACK WITH THE I20N AND I30N, TOO
The recent Hyundai i20N and Hyundai i30 will also be fitted with Pirelli P Zero as original equipment, size 215/40R18 89 Y for the Hyundai i20N and size 235/35R19 91 Y for the Hyundai i30N, respectively. This is a further step in the partnership between Pirelli and Hyundai that began in 2016 with the tyres for the Hyundai i30N Fastback and Hyundai Veloster N and highlights the close bond between the Italian tyre manufacturer and the Hyundai N sports line-up that features all of the Korean manufacturer's high-performance models available in Europe.
A LEAP INTO THE WRC
Pirelli and Hyundai also share the WRC experience.In addition to the Nürburgring VLN Championships, the Pirelli World Challenge and the Nürburgring 24-Hours, the Korean manufacturer has been competing in the World Rally Championship since 2014 with the i20 Coupe WRC, winner of the World Constructors' Championship in 2019 and 2020. Pirelli has been engaged in rally racing since 1973, winning 25 world titles and 181 races. Pirelli has been supplying tyres to WRC2 category cars since 2018 and until 2024 will be the sole supplier for the WRC, reasserting its leading position in the most important motorsport series.
