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NEWS
Kia announces Soul EV for export markets
Kia has slated an electric variant of its upcoming second-gen Soul for Europe and the US, but not AustraliaKia has announced it’s working on an all-electric variant of its second-generation Soul hatch. The Korean company’s first EV developed for export sale is expected to reach US and European markets in the second half of 2014.
Media have already grabbed images of disguised prototypes in Korea, Europe and the US in the lead-up to production.
Putting its power to an 81.4kW electric motor, the Soul EV’s 27kWh lithium-ion polymer battery is capable of a “class-leading” range over 200km on a single charge, the company says.
With 285Nm of instantaneous torque reaching the front wheels via a single-speed reduction transmission, it’s good for 0-100km/h in “under 12 seconds” and speeds of up to 145km/h.
Asked about the chances of Australian buyers seeing the Soul EV, Kia Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth told motoring.com.au they’re slim. “We never say never, but no, we don’t have any plans to that effect at the moment,” he said.
While the conventional Soul is a major volume seller for the marque in the US, it’s been positioned as a niche model in Australia. With 350 sales to its name in 2012 and a miniscule EV market, it would be near-impossible for the local operation to justify readying the car for Australian design rules.
Kia has developed the Soul EV on the all-new MY14 Soul platform. While it shares the conventional car’s body panels, there will be no shortage of visual differentiation. As a statement of the company’s “Clean Mobility” strategy, it embodies a number of eco-technologies like LED exterior lighting, aero-efficient alloy wheels and a raft of organic and recycled bio-materials indoors.
The new Soul is set for launch Down Under in February 2014. While not revealing projections, Mr Hepworth said the company plans to broaden the car’s local market appeal and boost sales volume. This starts with a clean-sheet platform design, sharing with the compact cee’d and taking styling cues from the snappy Track’ster concept. Kia says stretching the wheelbase makes for better interior space, while a 29 per cent improvement in body rigidity heralds major improvements to ride, handling and chassis refinement.
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Written byJeremy Bass
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