Yesterday, Kia released a set of photos and more info on their upcoming Kia Soul. Back in March, we saw the Soul triplets at the Geneva show, but the production version will make its debut at next month’s Paris Motor Show. Though Kia calls the Soul an “urban crossover”, ee’re not sure in what segment to place the car, it has things in common with mini and compact hatchback, while its appearance places it closer to the crossover segment.
Under the hood, the Kia Soul will be offered with both petrol and diesel engines. The smallest engine, offered in most countries, will be a 1.6 liter petrol unit that develops 126 hp at 6,300 rpm and 156 Nm (115-lbs/ft) of torque at 4,200 rpm, while European customers will also get a 1.6 liter turbodiesel that will deliver 126 hp at 4,000 rpm and 255 Nm (188-lbs/ft) of torque at 2,000 rpm (also available with 115 hp in some countries). The most powerful engine in the range will be a 2.0 liter petrol engine that develops 142 hp at 6,000 rpm and 186 Nm (137-lbs/ft) of torque at 4,600 rpm.
The car will be 4,105 mm long, 2,550 mm wide and 1,610 mm tall, but Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer, Kia Motors Europe, said that “drivers and passengers will be treated to a very unique experience when sitting inside the Soul for the first time. The tall doors and high-mounted seats make for easy access, while the ‘laid-back’ dashboard design, triple dial instrument cluster and thick-rimmed steering wheel create a combination of spaciousness for passengers and tailored fit for the driver, generating a very special ambience.”
The Kia Soul will be assembled at the Kia Gwangju plant in Korea from this November and global sales will start next February. Check out more photos after the jump.
Photo Gallery: Kia Soul
 |
 |
 |
 |
