Kia Motors UK has released details of the second-generation Kia Soul. This comes around three months before the new Soul will arrive in South Africa.
According to Kia’s research, buyers prefer the slightly elevated driving position “and perceived safety advantages of a 4×4, but they do not want the higher fuel consumption of four-wheel drive cars”. This is spot on as new cars such as the new Peugeot 2008 and Suzuki SX4 that have recently been launched.
Behind the funky new nose is either a 1,6-litre petrol engine or a 1,6-litre turbodiesel engine. The turbodiesel develops 94 kW and 240 N.m while the dash to 100 km/h is done in 10,8 seconds and the top speed is 180 km/h. The petrol engine offers 97 kW and 161 N.m. The sprint time to 100 km/h is a similar 10,6 seconds and top speed is claimed to be 185 km/h.
The Soul is slightly bigger than the outgoing model. It has a 20 mm longer wheelbase, is 15 mm wider, but the height has been lowered by 10 mm. The exterior continues the modern and hip design style that we have associated with the current Kia Soul when it was originally launched. LED lamps are implemented in the indicators, day-time running lamps as well as the rear headlamps.
Oversees a few trim levels will become available with features such as a tyre pressure monitoring system, steering wheel-mounted controls, USB and aux ports as well as six airbags. Kia will also release a full-electric version of the new Soul before the end of year, though it is highly unlikely that this vehicle will become available in South Africa in the near future.
A spokesperson for Kia Motors South Africa told CAR that it is unclear at this stage which engines, transmissions (there is again an automatic unit available) and trim levels will become available.
