Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors to Launch Palisade and Remodelled Kona This Year

The sole distributor of Hyundai vehicles in Malaysia, Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) will be bringing in two of their SUVs. Malaysia will soon welcome the award-winning luxury SUV Palisade as well as its compact SUV, the 2021 facelifted Kona. 

The Palisade is Hyundai’s flagship premium 7-seater SUV which rides on a new SUV chassis. With ample room for the second and third row seats as well as generous boot space, the Palisade is positioned as the ultimate family vehicle due to those reasons. 

Powered with a Atkinson-cycle 3.8-lite V6, dual CVVT, direct-injected engine, it ensures amazing performance and efficiency with an estimated 291 hp at 6,000 rpm and 355 Nm at 5,000 rpm.

The award-winning Palisade features a Heads-Up Display (HUD) that projects a virtual image to the windshield, aiding in the driver’s road visibility. This feature also uses a system of mirrors combined with a full-color TFT LCD display as well as adjustable brightness to ensure visibility at any time of the day. 

A new innovative roof vent diffuser design is also featured in the Palisade. Being an industry-first, it provides a focused, partially-diffused or fully-diffused stream of air to rear passengers. This new diffuser vent provides a quieter rear air conditioning air flow, draft-free operation, more uniform distribution of air and the ability for a focused stream of air whenever desired.

Another exciting model that will be brought in is the 2021 facelifted Kona. According to HSDM’s Managing Director, Mr Low Yuan Lung, the Kona which was launched last year has captured the attention of individuals looking for a distinctively designed compact SUV.

“The public had their first look of our compact SUV, Kona, last year and it was well received despite the stiff competition in the SUV segment. Considering the positive response and reviews received for the newly designed Kona overseas, we are confident we will be able to capture more hearts this time around,” said Mr Low.

One of the few main highlights of the facelifted Kona is the new Smartstream G2.0 Atkinson four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a CVT transmission. This allows the vehicle to produce 146 hp at 6,200 rpm and 180 Nm at 4,500 rpm. The Smartstream engine  ensures dynamic performance with better driving experience, reduced emissions and better fuel efficiency.

The model also gets a more refined front fascia design, new 17 and 18-inch wheels as well as an enhanced SmartSense safety package and a remote starter. It also receives an urban sporty styling, which is a part of the Hyundai’s Sensuous Sportiness global design theme. With a curved bonnet, the exterior exudes more of a provocative feel compared to before. 

For the interior, the facelifted Kona gets a new horizontal layout while the air vents and speakers get new rings with aluminium finish. Included is the new upgraded ambient lighting technology which lights up the cupholder and foot lamps on the front row. New interior colour options, materials and trims are also expected for this model.

Low mentioned that even with the launching of the Palisade and the facelifted Kona for this year, other new models are also in the pipeline for HSDM which is believed to further excite the market. Watch this space as well as HSDM’s news to know more on when these models are due for launch.