2021 Kona Electric facelift photos now out ...

I guess the other thing is that technology is moving rapidly. A car that first comes out next year may very well seem dated 3-4 years from now. The Kona first arrived in Europe in 2018 (discussion in the media back in late 2017).

 

Is it possible that they deleted the port covers? This is my fourth plug-in and the only one that has them.

 

I wasn't over keen on the facelift at first, but its growing on me quite quickly to be honest.

 

I like the painted wheel well area. How's that saying "it's all German to me"

 

Was haben Sie nicht ferstahen? Pardon my German, I havn't used it in years.

I just double checked. Did not notice the fully painted fenders before. Normally these are the areas where stones and "northern road salt" hits the body and the paint gets chipped. For this reason I have no problem with the plasticized cover around the wheel wells. On cars with painted whellwells I would install mudflaps!

 

Didn't have any other place to post this:

Hyundai Canada is upping Kona EV inventory to clear out the waitlists
A second plant opening means the automaker can triple the Electrics imported here

 

There must be some confusion about 'facelift' and the 2021 models. I bought a 2021 Kona Electric. It is a 'before facelift' model. As a matter of fact there were two 2021 models on the dealer's lot last week, just arrived (FOB - fresh off the boat? ), both with 'before facelift' body configuration. Go figure.

 

From what I can figure out it looks like the European models got the facelift not the North American Models. It probably the models coming out of the 'European factory. Perhaps North American will get the change in the future

 

When I went in for my BMS recall, I noticed a few Kona EVs there in and around the showroom. So I asked a salesperson if they are now getting more in. He said that they just got a big shipment, and now have 40 Kona EVs in stock at this dealer. I was flabbergasted.

 

S

Same here in So. Cal. I am near Los Angeles. I just took my Kona in for the BMS update today and they had 28 new ones in stock compared to the 4 when I Leased mine in 2019

 

Hyundai needs to up the DCFC charging rate to at least 125-150 kW like most other manufacturers otherwise the Kona won't compete well. Most folks don't need DCFC regularly (just for road trips), but the increased rate certainly makes the trip a lot more pleasurable with the reduced stop times.

ID.4 will have 100-125 kW. Volvo XC40 Recharge will have 150 kW. Mustang Mach-E will have 115-150 kW. Polestar 2 will have 150 kW. Audi e-Tron has 100 kW. Mercedes EQC will have 110 kW. Rivian R1S will have 160 kW. Lucid Air Dream will have 350 kW. Porsche Taycan has 270 kW. The Kona's 77 kW DCFC rate looks sad next to the upcoming generation of cars.

 

Hmmm... Just checked online inventory at the northern California dealer where I bought mine last March -- which at the time had only about 4 in stock, and only 1 close to the configuration I wanted. They now have 11.

 

Kona needed the batteries fixed not a face lift. - Just saying

 

I do not expect the development of Kona anymore, maybe the name itself will remain, but the Koreans probably think only about the new platform and models developed based on it, and they hope to forget about the current problems. In fact, that's what we should expect, because while the Kona is a nice car, it is not overwhelmingly successful, nor does it have a lot of development potential. In many markets, customers are reluctant to pay for something "plastic-fantastic", even with modern and efficient technology under the hood. And they definitely avoid cars they think can catch fire. Note that many insurers explicitly exclude liability for a fire due to an internal cause (treating it as a failure, not an accident).

 

I like your comment, but not the truth! You are telling the truth which is difficult to handle if you are a Kona EV owner. One point worth making here; Hyundai never really marketed this beautiful car. It sold itself. They had hugely successful design and let it die. SHAME.
Oh the saga about my South Korean bolts continues. My dealer received "one of two packages". Can anyone believe this?