Hyundai is making a move few saw coming: instead of the usual mid-cycle facelift, the automaker is developing a completely new generation of the Kona. The project carries the internal codename SX3, and its unveiling is expected within the next 12 months. Hyundai hasn't confirmed any of this officially — but the signs are hard to miss.
The new Kona is set to get a far more angular body, a fully reworked cabin, and the Pleos Connect infotainment system built around a large central display. The physical buttons aren't going anywhere, though — key functions are expected to keep their dedicated controls. A balance between futuristic tech and common sense that's rarer than it should be.
Sources also point to an evolution of the K3 platform. It's said to support plug-in hybrid variants as well as a fully electric version. A range-extender setup with a gasoline generator is reportedly still just an idea being explored — nothing to bank on yet.
Hyundai's official European press office still only lists the current Kona generation, which debuted in 2023. Specs, target markets, and the exact launch date for the SX3-badged model remain unannounced.
