For many of us, a new transmission doesn’t mean much beyond asking how much it’s going to cost to get replaced. For car enthusiasts, it can reveal a lot about the car, such as how much power it will be able to generate, and how much effort you’ll put into driving it. Hyundai has just made a lot of car lovers very happy with a recent press release regarding the new transmission hitting the 2022 Hyundai Kona N. Yet, it’s also a bitter-sweet moment as one much-beloved feature is notably missing.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona N has a new dual-clutch transmission

Hyundai News recently announced exciting information about the 2022 Hyundai Kona N, and it has some car enthusiasts drooling. The Kona N will be the Korean automaker’s first high-performance SUV, and it will come equipped with an eight-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission, known as N DCT.

If you’re a mechanic or just like to keep up with the car lingo, this all makes perfect sense. If you’re not, however, it can be a little confusing. So here’s what we found out.

According to Hyundai News, “The electric pump system is composed of the High Flow Electric Oil Pump, which is responsible for gear lubrication and clutch cooling, and the High Pressure Electric Oil Pump, which supplies oil to the accumulator and maintains the pressure needed to control the gear shifting. Together, they ensure that the wet DCT can function with minimum engine power loss, thus resulting in better fuel economy. This new, updated pump system increases the number of applications for the wet N DCT, making it optimal for high-torque applications.”

Essentially, what this all means is that drivers will get superior performance thanks to an increase in the maximum torque, and you’ll have more fun driving the Kona N. For anyone looking for an SUV that doesn’t squeal tires when you press the gas, the Kona N sounds like it might be the solution to your problem. There’s just one issue though that will have some car lovers fuming.

Does the 2022 Kona N have a manual transmission?

Any vehicle that earns the title of high performance is sure to draw in some positive attention. Hyundai Motors has made some drivers very disappointed, however, by the lack of a manual transmission for the Kona N.

While many drivers dread trying to drive a vehicle equipped with a manual, for others, it’s a rite of passage. There’s something about being in greater control of the vehicle that is empowering and makes some drivers feel closer to their cars. For those who think of a car as just something to get from point A to point B in, the lack of a manual is no big deal. Car enthusiasts are more than a little disappointed, however.

Autoblog was quick to point out the lack of manual transmission. It did go on to state that the dual-clutch automatic seems like it will be all that Hyundai has promised, but it’s still not quite the same. It appears the lack of enthusiasm for manual transmission was all the reasoning Hyundai needed to avoid adding it to the Kona N.

Are there any other surprises in the 2022 Hyundai Kona?

While the lack of a manual is more than a little disappointing, it did leave us wondering if there was more to the 2022 Hyundai Kona N. MotorTrend was able to provide some details.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona N is getting the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that’s equipped in the Elantra N. So, if you’ve got time, taking the Elantra N for a test drive can give you a solid idea of how the Kona N will perform.

Tragically, there is no AWD option. It will have front-wheel drive, which is always a little disappointing on an SUV. Despite this, it sounds like the 2022 Hyundai Kona N is well worth the wait for anyone interested in a compact SUV.