By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- Fast start: KT&G says its new lil Tonino Lamborghini device preheats in about three seconds.
- New technology: FlashWave Heating uses microwaves to heat the tobacco stick.
- New platform: The device launches Sept. 15 in Seoul alongside five dedicated NAU tobacco sticks.
KT&G is reducing the wait to three seconds.
The South Korean tobacco company will launch its new lil Tonino Lamborghini heated tobacco device on Sept. 15, introducing a microwave-based heating system that KT&G says preheats more than five times faster than its current products.
The device uses what the company calls FlashWave Heating Technology, which uses microwaves to heat the interior of a tobacco stick rather than relying on a conventional heating element. KT&G says the technology reduces preheating time to approximately three seconds, though actual times can vary depending on humidity and other conditions.
KT&G also says the system heats the stick evenly from start to finish while maintaining features of earlier lil devices, including strong aerosol output and easier cleaning. The device has a full aluminum body, a color display and a graphical user interface that shows heating status, battery level and remaining puffs.
Kim Dong-pil, head of KT&G’s next-generation products business, said the company developed the product to reduce wait times associated with existing heated tobacco devices while providing a more consistent experience. “We will further strengthen our R&D capabilities and focus on improving convenience from the customer’s perspective,” Kim said.
The lil Tonino Lamborghini will initially be available at approximately 8,300 convenience stores in Seoul, at three lil MINIMALIUM flagship locations, and on KT&G’s online lil Store. Convenience stores will carry the Carbon Gray version, while the company’s own channels will offer Carbon Gray, Copper Brown, Wave Blue, and the limited-edition Ruby Black SV.
The standard device has a suggested retail price of KRW110,000 ($79) and a promotional launch price of KRW49,000. The limited Ruby Black SV is priced at KRW120,000, with a promotional price of KRW59,000.
KT&G is also introducing NAU, a new line of tobacco sticks developed specifically for the platform. The initial lineup includes NAU Rust, NAU Blue, NAU Change, NAU Yellow, and NAU Coral, priced at KRW4,800 per pack.
