India, July 12 -- Hyundai has ambitious electric vehicle plans for India and the first step in that vision is the Hyundai Kona, a Creta-sized Sports Utility Vehicle. When you first glance at it, it sure looks like an SUV that has been lightly grazed by the future. It looks quite normal and that is one message that car designers are trying to send to potential buyers. The future does not have to look very different, even though it might drive quite differently. Hyundai India had arranged a short three-lap run with the Kona around the Buddh International Circuit, more for logistical reasons than for performance reasons.

The track is not the natural home of the Kona, with its low rolling resistance tyres and the fact that it is a SUV makes ...