Testing a completely new vehicle in the scorching heat of Southern Europe is a critical milestone for any manufacturer. The steep grades and blistering asphalt of Spain were selected by South Korean automaker Hyundai for its next-generation Kona, serving as an unforgiving proving ground where powertrain thermal management is pushed to its absolute limits.
The Kona has skipped the mid-cycle refresh for a generational makeover. Bypassing a ... (co…