Photo: CarPix
Scandinavia can't order enough Kia and Hyundai EVs right now, thanks to their competitive battery backs. And it looks like Soul EV will also be on their shopping list.
The fully electric version of Kia's box crossover has been spied once again near the Nurburgring. This time around, our spyshots also reveal most of the interior, which was a mystery until now.
Before we talk about the switches and buttons, let's focus on the range. The infotainment reads 437 kilometers on 92% charge. That's 475 km on 100% (simple maths), and t means Kia will claim 500 km per charge. Weirdly, the Hyundai Kona Electric with what we presume to be the same 64kWh battery only gets 415 km per charge.
Either way, the Soul EV will be more than twice as good as its predecessor in this regard. Of course, we can't ignore the possibility of more than one battery option, but as things stand, Tesla has something to worry about from the plucky Koreans. And did we mention this EV has about 200 horsepower?
The interior is quite different from the Kia Niro crossover. The new Soul's main motif is a MINI-like circle, seen on the steering wheel and the gear selector, among other things.
Although it's not clear if these will be offered to Europeans, the Soul will also have ICE versions. The two most likely powertrains are a 2-liter base unit and a 1.6-liter turbo option, as the Veloster. Also, a 1.6-liter diesel with the new hybrid assist setup could be popular in the domestic Korean market.
As for styling, we have a pretty good rendering based on recent spyshots that take the guesswork out of the equation. The Soul will be boxy, yes, but in a futuristic way with Juke-like headlights. The EV will add its twist with a blocked off grille and aero wheels. Expect the new model to retail for around $36,000 in America or €35,000 on the old continent.
Before we talk about the switches and buttons, let's focus on the range. The infotainment reads 437 kilometers on 92% charge. That's 475 km on 100% (simple maths), and t means Kia will claim 500 km per charge. Weirdly, the Hyundai Kona Electric with what we presume to be the same 64kWh battery only gets 415 km per charge.
Either way, the Soul EV will be more than twice as good as its predecessor in this regard. Of course, we can't ignore the possibility of more than one battery option, but as things stand, Tesla has something to worry about from the plucky Koreans. And did we mention this EV has about 200 horsepower?
The interior is quite different from the Kia Niro crossover. The new Soul's main motif is a MINI-like circle, seen on the steering wheel and the gear selector, among other things.
Although it's not clear if these will be offered to Europeans, the Soul will also have ICE versions. The two most likely powertrains are a 2-liter base unit and a 1.6-liter turbo option, as the Veloster. Also, a 1.6-liter diesel with the new hybrid assist setup could be popular in the domestic Korean market.
As for styling, we have a pretty good rendering based on recent spyshots that take the guesswork out of the equation. The Soul will be boxy, yes, but in a futuristic way with Juke-like headlights. The EV will add its twist with a blocked off grille and aero wheels. Expect the new model to retail for around $36,000 in America or €35,000 on the old continent.
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