FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: All-new Kia Soul

The second iteration of Kia’s funky Soul made its world debut at the New York motor show earlier this year , and now it’s followed up with its first European appearance at today’s Frankfurt motor show.

Underpinned by an all-new platform that’s shared with Europe’s small cee’d hatch, the new Soul is claimed to offer improved dynamics and ride comfort, along with a quieter and more spacious cabin that’s trimmed in better quality materials.

Due on sale in Australia early next year following its official launch at the Kia-sponsored Australian Open tennis touranement, the new Soul also gains freshened styling that’s nonetheless in keeping with the hip proportions of the original. The upright stance is carried over, as are the high shoulders and wraparound greenhouse.

Although visually evolutionary, Kia makes big claims of the new platform and re-engineered bodyshell, which is now made of 66 per cent ultra-high strength or high strength steel, with stronger connections along the cowl, upper and lower B-pillars and between the C-pillars.

The result, according to Kia, is a 29 per cent increase in torsional rigidity compared to the outgoing model and, thanks to the use of ultra-high strength steel, the A-pillars are 20 mm narrower, improving forward visibility.

Complementing the stiffer chassis are comprehensively revised steering and suspension, which are said to help improve handling dynamics, ride quality and refinement levels.

Kia describes the new Soul as being more “grown up”, and the claim isn’t without substance as the vehicle has grown 20mm in length (to 4140mm), the wheelbase has been extended by 20mm (to 2570mm), while width is up by 15mm (to 1800mm).

The dimensional stretch is said to make for a more spacious cabin, and the tailgate opening is also 60mm wider than before, providing easier access to a larger cargo area, which has had its capacity increased by four per cent to 354 litres (plus additional underfloor storage).

Although Australian-spec levels will not be announced until closer to the local launch, Euro-bound cars will be offered with new features that include front LED lights and rear LED ‘halo’ lights, HID headlights, keyless entry and push-button engine start.

The feature list in high-spec models will also include automatic climate-control air-conditioning, cruise control, leather seat trim, ventilated front seats, heated front and rear seats, panoramic glass sunroof and heated exterior mirrors.

Base models of the Soul are propelled by a 97kW/160Nm 1.6-litre Gamma GDI four-cylinder petrol engine, while Plus and Exclaim versions are powered by an upgraded 2.0-litre Nu GDI engine offering 122kW/205Nm.

Drive is relayed to the front wheels by a choice of six-speed manual or auto transmissions.

Given our current Soul is available with both 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol engines and a 1.6 turbo-diesel, Australia’s Korean-sourced MkII Soul is likely to at least score both newer direct-injection petrol engines.

Although the Soul is very much a niche vehicle in Australia, where just 110 have been sold to August this year (down almost 54 per cent on 2012 figures), the model is a smash-hit in the US, where it appeals to a broader demographic.

“It’s never going to be big sales, but we can do better and it’s very important as a brand statement for us,” Kia Motors Europe’s Vice-President of Marketing and Product Planning, Benny Oeyen, told motoring.com.au. “Soul as a global car is big business – it’s huge in America.”

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...

Don't forget to register to comment on this article.