Hyundai takes home a major win this week with the 2018 Kona named Sub-Compact Sport Utility Vehicle of Texas at the 2018 Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) Annual Texas Truck Rodeo. The two-day test drive evaluation program comprised of 69 journalists with 59 vehicles that competed in 18 categories for all types of trucks, SUV’s and CUV’s.
“TAWA journalists overwhelmingly selected the 2018 Hyundai Kona as the Sub-Compact Sport Utility Vehicle of Texas,” said Michael Marrs, TAWA president. “TAWA members recognized the all-new Kona for its bold and stylish exterior design, functional and roomy interior with cutting edge connectivity, class leading safety features and fuel-efficient drivetrains.”
“TAWA journalists know their SUVs and trucks, and their expertise and in-depth knowledge is respected nationwide,”said Mike O’Brien, vice president of product, corporate and digital planning, Hyundai Motor America. “As Hyundai’s first entry in the sub-compact SUV segment, we are honored to receive this recognition in Texas. This award validates our commitment and ingenuity in building quality vehicles with designs and technology that reflect today’s drivers.”
Kona rides on an all-new CUV platform and is Hyundai’s first B-segment crossover for the U.S. market, appealing to consumers with active lifestyles of all kinds. Kona’s “urban smart armor” exterior styling features voluminous, aggressive body styling complemented by a low and wide stance for great looks and confident handling in a variety of urban and adventure-oriented driving environments.
Kona offers occupants generous interior space by optimizing the underfloor layout, including the AWD drivetrain and exhaust system, to reduce central tunnel intrusion on interior space. The optional AWD system and drivetrain is intelligently packaged to offer a spacious interior despite its compact exterior dimensions. Kona also benefits from strategic use of structural adhesives at high stress points on the chassis and extensive use of hot-stamping methods for greater rigidity. It joins Hyundai’s successful Tucson and Santa Fe models in a full line-up of Hyundai crossovers for the U.S. market.
Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA)
Texas Auto Writers Association is a non-profit organization that has promoted professionalism and quality in automotive journalism for more than three decades. TAWA produces two annual events that have gained national traction: The Texas Truck Rodeo and the Texas Auto Roundup. In addition, TAWA awards scholarships to Texas college and university students majoring in journalism each year as well as recognizes individual members for their exceptional coverage of the automotive industry at the annual Excellence in Craft Competition. For more information, please visit https://texasautowriters.org/.
Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America is focused on delivering an outstanding customer experience grounded in design leadership, engineering excellence and exceptional value in every vehicle we sell. Hyundai’s technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assurance—our promise to deliver peace of mind to our customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide and the majority sold in the U.S. are built at U.S. manufacturing facilities, including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.
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