Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun. (Photos: Hyundai Motor Group)

Hyundai Motor released the Kona Hybrid, the automaker’s first hybrid SUV, in Korea. Hyundai Motor put on the market Koa Hybrid and 2020 Kona (gasoline and diesel) on Aug. 7.

“The Kona, which made its debut in 2017, won the “Car of the Year 2018” in Spain and it was named the 2019 North America Utility Vehicle of the Year,” a Hyundai Motor official said. With the addition of the hybrid model, the Kona is the small SUV category with the nation’s biggest lineup, ranging from gasoline to diesel, hybrid and electric models, which is expected to meet diverse customer favorites.

Hyundai Motor reduced eight trim levels of the conventional Kona to three trim levels of the 2020 Kona. The 2020 Kona is outfitted with basic features such a forward collision-avoidance assistance (FCA), a line keeping assist (LKA) and a driver attention warning (DAW) to enhance comfort and convenience. In particular, the 2020 Kona Diesel is powered with a new diesel engine, which has an improved range of about 4.2 percent to 17.5 km per liter with the new four-wheel drive option.

The newly introduced Kona Hybrid boasts a range of 19.3 km per liter, and it is outfitted with a car-to-home service, Hyundai Motor’s first such one deigned to remotely control home appliances via IoT, and other state-of-the-art technologies.

A view of the Kona Hybrid, Hyundai Motor’s first hybrid SUV.

‘Has Kia Motors New Carnival Caught up with Honda Odyssey in US?’

Kia Motors, entering the New Car Super Cycle between H2 2019 and H2 2020, is now poised to release the New Carnival in the global market to have a head-to-head contest with the minivan juggernaut Honda Odyssey. Attention is glued on whether Kia Motor’s New Carnival will break the bulwark of the Odyssey in the U.S. market.

The Carnival is outbidding the Odyssey in Korea, but it is the opposite in global markets like the United States, some automobile industry sources said. They said Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun directed Kia Motors to come up with strategic tactics to have the New Carnival surpass the juggernaut Odyssey in global markets.

The move may be construed as the automaker group’s attempt to make the most of the reputation the Carnival has accumulated in Korea to throw down a gauntlet head-to-head with the Odyssey.

Kia Motors’ multi-purpose minivan Carnival has enjoyed a steady popularity since 1998 when it made its debut. The Carnival, being put on the market, is a third-generation model introduced in 2014.

A view of Kia Motors’ New Carnival.