The bell rings again, and cheers and applause break out in the Hyundai stand at the annual Fieldays spend-fest.
The ritual salutes another sale made by the stand’s salespeople — the fifth in the 30 minutes I’ve been standing there.
There’s no doubt many of these rings mark the sale of another current-generation Santa Fe SUV, on a run-out special, with $16,000 slashed from list pricing.
Everyone, it seems, loves a Fieldays bargain.
But then, I wonder whether the outgoing Santa Fe is such a good buy given I’m standing next to two yet-to-be-unveiled new-generation models of the vehicle. I’ve driven the replacement in Korea, and it’s a big step forward.
It drives with more enthusiasm and refinement, has a more efficient eight-speed automatic gearbox, and turns into corners with increased finesse.
The biggest gain is the more luxurious furnishing and design of the cabin in the new model. To me, these are all qualities worth paying an extra premium for.
When Hyundai Automotive NZ’s general manager, Andy Sinclair, has done the unveiling duties, he tells me the recommended list prices of the incoming Santa Fe models will be the same as those they will replace (without the $16,000 Fieldays discount).
That equates to an entry price of $60,990 for a front-drive seven-seat petrol, topping out at $79,990 for 4wd diesel Elite Limited.
Though the price positioning of the new Santa Fes should ensure they remain highly popular medium/large SUVs in this country, Hyundai also used the Fieldays event to showcase what is arguably the most high-tech vehicle about to be launched by the brand in this market to date.
Hyundai Kona. Photo / Paul Owen
The battery-powered Kona Electric will go sale here in August at a yet-to-be-disclosed price.
Expect it to cost a bit more than the Ioniq EV sedans that sell for $59,990 (Elite: $65,990), because the Kona Electric has more than double the battery power, with 64kWh’s worth of energy storage versus 21.
This allows the stealthiest Kona to roam for more than 400km between recharges, double the range of the Ioniq EV. The more powerful 150kW/395Nm Kona Electric also extends the working life of the lithium-ion battery array through a sophisticated liquid-cooling system that allows Hyundai to provide a 10-year/unlimited mileage warranty on the battery.
If Hyundai can nail the price to a point that’s reachable for many Kiwis, the Kona Electric could be an EV mindset-changer in this country, especially as the dealer network can offer 100kW fast chargers that can restore the battery to an 80 per cent charge within 54 minutes.
You can use a cellphone app to control these, and no increase in electricity flow to your house/office is required, according to a spokesman for Hyundai’s fast-charger partner, TransNet’s Glenn Inkster.
It wasn’t all about new SUVs on the Hyundai Fieldays stand. Prices were released for two of the most aspirational Korean cars – the $79,990 Genesis G70 luxury sports-saloon, and the hot $54,990 i30N hatchback.
New cosmetic changes for the Veloster sports-hatch and iLoad van dramatically lift their visual appeal, and the i30 range offers a wagon model.
Expect the bell to ring even more regularly on the Hyundai stand at the 2019 Fieldays event.