Kia Releases Soul EV Specs, Confirms Range of 200+ KM (124 Miles)

It looks like previous reports about the Kia Soul EV were pretty accurate, as they match the preliminary specs announced by Korean carmaker.

Scheduled to launch during the second half of 2014 in export markets, Kia’s first EV outside Korea will feature an 81.4-kW (109hp) electric motor producing 285 Nm (210 lb-ft) of torque. The motor delivers its power to the front wheels through a single speed constant ratio gear reduction unit.

Thanks to the instantly available torque, the Soul EV will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 12 seconds and will reach a top speed of 145 km/h (90 mph).

The car will feature a high-capacity 27 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack that will provide a driving range of more than 200 km (124 miles) on a single charge. Recharging times are estimated at up to five hours for a fully depleted battery using a standard 240v or 230v household outlet, or 25 minutes on “fast” charge with 100 kW output.

The Soul EV will feature the styling of the second-generation Soul, and the images released by Kia confirm this. Although the prototypes are shown wearing camouflage, the overall shape of the car is the same – which is normal since the Soul EV prototype test cars are built on modified versions of the 2014 Kia Soul. Kia says the production car will feature projection type headlamps, LED positioning lamps, LED rear combination lamps and aerodynamically shaped 16” inch alloy wheels.

On the inside, the Soul EV will feature a unique Supervision instrument cluster and center stack with an eight-inch display screen. The electric vehicle will also be equipped with a VESS (Virtual Engine Sound System) that emits an audio alert at speeds below 20 km/h (12 mph) and whenever the car is reversing.

Prototypes are currently being tested at Kia’s Namyang R&D facility in Korea, as well as in Europe and North America, before manufacturing begins in 2014. Kia’s first electric vehicle was the Ray EV, a limited run vehicle launched in 2011 and destined exclusively for South Korean government fleets.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

Kia Feels the Beat with Five Music-Themed Souls at the SEMA Show

Kia's dancing all the way to Las Vegas and the 2013 SEMA Show with five concept versions of its 2014 Soul compact. The music-themed builds include the DJ Booth Soul, Amped Soul, Music Memorabilia Soul, a Soul inspired by NBC’s show The Voice and a Soul highlighting the brand’s partnership with the Vans Warped Tour.

Three of the vehicles have been built by Galpin Auto Sports and LUX Motorwerks and feature premium audio components intended for live performance, while the others showcase musical lifestyles and trends. In detail:

Amped Soul
This Kia Soul has been fitted by Popular Mechanics with enormous JBL speakers. The car features JBL Pro Live sound equipment integrated into the rear-hinged doors, LED ambient lighting and four 12-inch Infinity power subwoofers. Design-wise, the Amped Soul features blacked out windows and a custom paint job. It rides on huge 22-inch Forgiato custom three-piece wheels and it has no B-pillar on the passenger side in order to make room for the club-sized stereo.

Vans Warped Tour Soul
The second Soul designed by Popular Mechanics is a tribute to the Vans Warped Tour. Featuring a full custom paint job inspired by the colors of the Vans Warped Tour, the car has custom-built fiberglass body panels replacing the side windows that house eight Infinity 8-inch speakers. There’s also a 50-inch flat-panel monitor mounted atop the car with running footage from the tour itself. The Vans Warped Tour Soul also features a slide-out rear barbeque, a specially designed hood ornament, 20-inch wheels and LED ambient lighting.

DJ Booth Soul
As the name suggests, this Soul has been transformed into DJ booth on wheels by RIDES magazine. The car has no roof to give the DJ the ability to rise up and stand on a custom diamond-plated stage (which replaced the rear seats) and start spinning on the pro-grade Pioneer CDJs and mixer. It is painted in purple with turquoise accents, and comes with a lowered suspension while riding on 19-inch Rotiform BRU wheels. The Pioneer audio system includes five amplifiers, three component speakers, two 10-inch and two 12-inch Champion Series subwoofers, and a sound bar housing four coaxial speakers.

Music Memorabilia Soul
This unique Kia Soul is essentially a music museum on wheels created by RIDES magazine. It includes music memorabilia spanning rock, hip-hop and EDM history. Exhibits include a signed guitar from Slash, a G-Unit sneaker signed by 50 Cent, a Jimi Hendrix gold album and a signed John Legend microphone, all displayed in hand-built Plexiglas enclosures in the trunk, rear windows and rear hatch insert. 

The Voice Soul
This particular concept is dedicated to NBC’s The Voice show and has been customized by RIDES magazine. It features a bright red airbrushed The Voice logo on the side, incorporating vinyl on the window portion, as well as the inspiring words “I Want You” illuminated in the lower grille, along with the LED puddle projectors. The 20-inch three-piece Niche Scope wheels match the vehicle’s color, while the four replicated coaches’ chairs are the highlight of the interior that features red leather, black suede and red stitching. It even comes with an iPad Mini connected to a 40-inch LED TV that allows aspiring singers to use the preloaded The Voice app and sing through the wireless microphone, amplified through Rockford Fosgate speakers in their fiberglass custom pods.

Alongside the Soul custom concepts, Kia is also displaying the refreshed 2014 Optima, plus the 2014 Forte Koup and 2014 Forte hatchback fitted with the 201hp four-cylinder turbocharged engine.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

Kia Says Soul'ster Concept is Under Final Assessment for Production

It's been three years since Kia pulled the wraps off its conceptual Soul'ster convertible truck at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show. Kia fueled some rumors at the time that it was considering a production version of the car but never followed up on it. Until today, that is.
Unexpectedly, in the press statement on the Track'ster Concept that's scheduled to debut at the Chicago Auto Show next week, Kia dropped the ball saying that the Soul’ster convertible is "currently under final assessment for production".
The Korean maker did not elaborate further but we assume that if it receives the green light, the Soul'ster should be on its way to the market very soon.
The original concept is a two-door mixture of convertible and pickup models with seating for four passengers. It features a shortened windshield for a more hunkered down appearance and is equipped with a two-piece removable top residing on a roll bar that provides additional protections for the occupants.

New Kia Track'ster Concept based on the Soul Heads to Chicago Auto Show

This is the first official teaser rendering of Kia's latest concept based on the Soul crossover. It's called the Track'ster and it will make its first public appearance at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show next week.
Penned in Kia's California design studio, the Track'ster shows how a more sporty, three-door version of the Soul could look like, though the South Korean automaker is quick to point out that currently, there are no plans for a production version.

KIA UK Presents Black and White Editions of Picanto, Rio and Soul

Two new special editions named Domino and Echo that both play on black and white color schemes are joining Kia's UK-market lineup. The Domino special edition is available on the Picanto and Rio superminis, while the Echo is offered on the Soul crossover.

2012 Kia Soul Subtly Refreshed, gains New 135HP 1.6-liter and 160HP 2.0-liter Engines

Just three years into its sales run, and the Kia Soul is getting fine tuned to improve its place in the market. Set to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show alongside the all-new Rio Sedan that we told you about in our previous post, the 2012 Soul comes with a number of technology and powertrain enhancements and some subtle design updates.
The cosmetic differences on the outside are limited to the new projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, a redesigned bonnet, restyled front and rear bumpers, plus the new LED tail lamps. Inside, Kia updated its audio offerings and added the new ‘UVO’ in-car hands-free communication and infotainment system. There’s also a new Premium Package with heated front seats, leather seat trim, automatic climate control, and a navigation system.

Kia Confirms 2012 Rio Sedan and Hatch, and 2012 Soul Facelift for New York Show

In a move that shows Kia has no intention of letting the momentum it has gained with the launch of seven new products in the past two years fade away, the South Korean automaker confirmed today the world premiere of two new models at the rapidly approaching New York Auto Show (April 22 – May 1).
The first global debut concerns the four-door sedan version of the 2012 Kia Rio, which was unwrapped in hatchback form at the Geneva Salon in March. The 2012 Rio sedan will be joined by the North American debut of the Rio5 hatchback.

SCOOP: Kia Readying a Facelift for the 2012 Soul

It appears that the Soul is the next vehicle in Kia’s list to receive an update. Caught here in testing in Germany by our spy photographers, the bagged-up ends do their job to hide the Soul’s stylistic upgrades with the only visible change being the redesigned exterior mirrors that house the turning lights.
However, it is expected that the Soul will take some cues from the new Picanto and Rio hatchbacks (both of which were revealed at the Geneva Motor Show) such as the pulled back headlamps and more pronounced bumpers. An interior rework may also be in the cards.

Kia Soul Does Some Inner Searching with New Special Edition

The Soul Searcher is the latest addition to Kia's Originals line-up, which includes a collection of distinctive versions of the sub-compact crossover. This here special edition is for the UK market and it follows on from the Burner, Shaker, Tempest and Echo. Sales scheduled to start from the 4th January 2011.
The car is cosmetically distinguished by a light green metallic paintwork, and cream and brown full leather interior offset by a two-tone, cream and black dashboard. Furthermore, Kia's designers added chrome front grille and door handles, roof rails, black bezel headlights, front and rear mud flaps as well as 18-inch silver alloy wheels.

Kia Takes New Soul White Tiger and Hamstar Concepts to SEMA Show

Kia is represented by a variety of customized models at this week's 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, including this pair of concept versions of the Soul crossover called the "White Tiger" and "Hamstar".

The first concept study, the Soul White Tiger, is actually a teaser to one of two all-new special edition models that the company is planning to launch before the end of the year. Following in the footsteps of the four special edition Souls introduced over the past year, the White Tiger model features some unique styling cues and added content.

Kia Recalling 2010 Soul and 2011 Sorento for Electrical Issues

The first recall of the month comes from Kia, which is recalling approximately 23,973 Soul subcompacts from the 2010MY and around 11,213 Sorento crossovers from the 2011MY, all built from September 7, 2009 through July 30, 2010, due to a potential fault with the vehicles' electrical system.