The 2024 Hyundai Kona will be one the most affordable cars with over-the-air updates

It’s no secret that Hyundai’s design division is type of the one to beat proper now. However when the redesigned 2024 Hyundai Kona goes on sale this summer season, this compact crossover’s upgrades are extra than simply skin-deep.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona will even characteristic over-the-air updates — the flexibility to wi-fi transmit software program updates similar to a smartphone. Which may not appear particular in an period when Tesla provides video video games and fart sound results through OTA. Except for these form of gimmicks, OTA updates could be a important method so as to add new options and repair bugs that change and even surpass mechanical repairs.

OTAs are largely seen as the important thing to unlocking the software-focused future automakers need. So it’s notable that Hyundai has picked the common-or-garden Kona — the outgoing mannequin began at simply $22,140⁠ — for this OTA honor, making it probably the most reasonably priced vehicles on sale to supply it as a regular characteristic.

Forward of the automotive’s North American debut on the 2023 New York Worldwide Auto Present, Hyundai officers stated OTA software program updates on the Kona will permit for “a handy, upgradable expertise” the place house owners will obtain new options, firmware upgrades, maps and multimedia purposes wirelessly and with out having to go to a seller. The brand new Kona is available in gasoline or electrical types and OTA updates will probably be normal for each.

Picture credit score: Hyundai

The transfer places Hyundai forward of different opponents nonetheless working to roll out OTA updates throughout their total lineups. The brand new Kona does be a part of its company cousins at Kia, which debuted this characteristic throughout all of its automobiles earlier this yr, however just for their infotainment techniques. The Kona options updates that affect many areas of the car.

Whereas OTA updates have been part of Tesla’s vehicles for a few years — that’s how the electrical automaker sends out new variations of Autopilot, the so-called “Full Self-Driving” system and plenty of different new options and bug fixes — the remainder of the auto business continues to be catching up.

Largely, this characteristic has made it to luxurious vehicles and costlier EVs to date. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, the electrical Ford fashions, Rivian and a few Toyota and Lexus fashions provide OTA updates; many others nonetheless don’t. Even Volkswagen’s much-vaunted ID.4 EV despatched house owners to the seller for its software program replace, not wirelessly.

However that’s quickly beginning to change. After years of speaking about it, the auto business is beginning to make OTA updates normal throughout complete lineups of vehicles in order that new software program options might be rolled out on the fly. Electrical automobiles will probably be particularly depending on this characteristic, as they often require much less upkeep and fewer components than inside combustion automobiles — however may have extra tweaking to higher optimize their battery administration, repair bugs, improve automated driving features or add new options.

Hyundai Motor Group, which incorporates Hyundai, Kia and luxurious newcomer Genesis, has stated its purpose is to have all of its vehicles able to OTA updates by 2025. Some already are, such because the Kia lineup, the brand new Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan popping out this spring and the Kia EV9 crossover, which can also be making its debut in New York this week. The up to date 2024 Hyundai Sonata additionally now affords OTA updates.

Extra are coming quickly, and the truth that OTA updates are coming to the cheap Kona says lots about how ubiquitous this expertise is more likely to develop into throughout the whole business.

What we don’t know but is the pricing for the brand new Kona. A Hyundai spokesperson stated that info will probably be launched nearer to its launch this summer season. For now, we do know the crossover will include a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a fully-electric powertrain good for a Hyundai-estimated 260 miles of vary. (A hybrid model can also be accessible in different markets, however Hyundai has not stated if that will probably be offered in North America; its predecessor was not.) Extra particulars will probably be accessible nearer to the automotive’s launch.