Hyundai launches trio of Cat A models at 2024 Motor Show

Hyundai arguably had one of the strongest showings at the Singapore Motor Show this year. While its range of cars was ostensibly curated to appeal to the rational Singaporean motorist, it also boasted a halo model that will surely go down as one of the most photographed and talked about cars for this rodeo.

The top half of the equation was accomplished by a trio of new car launches, all of which, remarkably, are eligible for Category A COE-classification.

The three names are well-established enough in their own right at this point, but the Avante is likely the one that will ring the most bells. Reintroduced with a mid-life facelift, the family sedan now greets you with a cleaner front end, thanks to the seamless integration of a new grille and revised headlights. 

The facelifted Avante (right) has been hybridised with its reintroduction. Its extra electric motor doesn't just promise to aid fuel efficiency, but should also provide a sweeter drive thanks to bumps in power and torque

But the big scoop on the Avante's return is that it's now gone partially electric. On top of its 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine, the new Avante Hybrid is now powered by a 32kW electric motor. This doesn't just aid the car's fuel efficiency (it qualifies for Band A2 under the VES), but gives it an extra boost in power.

Combined, the car's hybrid powertrain now outputs 129bhp (up from 121bhp previously), while giving it significantly more shove than before - 265Nm of torque, from just 154Nm previously. The picture becomes even rosier when you note that the car has dropped the CVT of old for a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. We already have higher hopes for how it will drive.

On the note of revisions, the second member of the new Ioniq family has also gotten a new powertrain to widen its appeal.

By having its battery downsized, and by dropping the motor on its front axle, the Ioniq 6 has ducked under the Category A power ceiling for the first time since it first reached Singapore.

A rear-wheel drive variant of the Ioniq 6 has allowed the model to slip into Cat A for the first time 

This new, rear-wheel driven variant of the Ioniq 6 is powered by a 53kWh battery that can still squeeze out up to 429km of range  (for comparison, that's 90km less than on the dual-motor variant with its larger battery). Its single motor sends 107kW (or 143bhp) entirely to the rear wheels, allowing the car to complete the century sprint in 9.4 seconds. 

The Cat A trio is rounded off by the official launch of the striking, all-new Kona Electric, which follows in the footsteps of its Hybrid twin, launched in Q3 last year.

A 48.6kWh battery powers the standard-range variant of the Kona Electric, which already gives it an impressive figure of up to 456km of range on a single charge. Furthermore, this variant gets a single motor on its front axle, which churns out 99kW (133bhp) and 255Nm of instant torque. Those seeking extra power and range will eventually get to choose a variant with 107kW (or 143bhp) electric motor and a 64.8kWh battery as well - good for up to 541km on a single charge.

The handsome Kona Electric rounds off Hyundai's Cat A trio at the Motor Show, while serving up V2L capabilities for the first time in the model's history

The big news with the new Kona Electric, however, is that it's gotten Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities for the first time. That puts it in more in the league of its bespoke electric siblings - the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 - with its ability to essentially function as a roving power bank. 

The Hyundai booth has a number of other models on display - including the Kona Hybrid and multiple variants of the Ioniq 5 - but here's where we change gears and get to the halo car mentioned above.

Making an appearance for the first time in Singapore was a special vehicle showcasing both the rapid growth of Hyundai's N division, as well as its commitment to enthusiasts in its electric future: The Ioniq 5 N. 

Brooding silently in the literal background: The Ioniq 5 N, current pride and joy of both Hyundai's N and IONIQ divisions

Performance is ludicrous; the Ioniq 5 N's twin motors generate a maximum of 478kW (or 650bhp) of power - that is, when that red NGB (N Grin Boost, yes) button is depressed. That enables it to fly from 0 to 100km/h in a mere 3.4 seconds. 

Beyond raw power, however, the Ioniq 5 N gets unique features tailored to its electric powertrain - an N e-shifter, simulating a paddle shift gearbox; N Torque Distribution for peak handling; and an N Drift Optimiser that helps you… well, drift. 

Sadly, it is still unclear when the Ioniq 5 N will officially reach us, so we'll have to continue waiting for now. As we return to reality, however, here are the launch prices of the three Cat A models at the Show: