Two of Hyundai Motor's vehicles have won at the Red Dot Design Awards 2018. These are the Hyundai NEXO Fuel Cell vehicle and the Hyundai Kona subcompact SUV. The Red Dot Design Award is recognized as one of the better recognised global awards for high quality design and the winners are awarded by a jury consisting of high profile designers, professors and journalists. The 2018 contest attracted entries from 59 countries, making the Red Dot Award the largest product competition in the world.
The Red Dot Award's winners are evaluated on its functionality, durability, level of innovation and overall quality under aspects of form and function. Here, the Hyundai NEXO and the Kona were awarded in the Cars and Motorcycles category of the Red Dot Design Awards 2018. The Kona gained recognition for outstanding design and innovation in ‘SUV/Off-road vehicles’ while the Hyundai NEXO showed its flair in its respective subcategory.
The Hyundai NEXO is Hyundai’s second-generation fuel cell electric vehicle. It is supposed to go on sale in a few markets this year. This is also first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV that combines the practicality of an SUV with the clean advanced fuel cell know-how offering the most advanced technology on the market with autonomous driving capabilities, smart advanced driver assistance systems and strongest powertrains in the segment. The powertrain is something new and now it has been award a design award, meaning that it also looks good. It does, doesn't it?
Of course, the issue is that whether local distributors of Hyundai here in Malaysia, Hyundai Sime Darby Motors would be brave enough and try bring in this energy efficient vehicle here. Since it is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, it is unlike no other if it is brought in.
The Nexo has a 163PS, 400Nm electric motor. It features three fuel tanks with a total capacity of 156 liters and 6.3 kg. The The Nexo has a driving range of 800km from the electric motor which derives energy from the hydrogen fuel cell - a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is a type of electric vehicle which uses a fuel cell, instead of a battery, or in combination with a battery or capacitor, to power its electric motor.
Anyway, the more normal powered Hyundai Kona is one that should be brought in. It looks good in the metal. Hyundai would do well in the sub-compact SUV segment here if it is brought in. It has a nicely styled front end where the headlights are quite unique (like the Nexo but a little more squared off everywhere). It is smaller than the Tucson and could be a worthy competitor in the small sized SUV/Crossover segment here.
This is the fifth consecutive year that a Hyundai or two has come out tops in the Red Dot Awards. The 2018 award follows the 2017 Hyundai Azera win and an ‘Honorable Mention’ award for the i30. In 2016, Hyundai IONIQ line up won and prior to that in 2015 for the i20 and Sonata. 2014 the tiny i10 and Genesis won the awards making Hyundai one of the most design savvy car companies around today.
So Hyundai Sime Darby Motors, when will the Kona be brought in?
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