Kia Soul Flex bows in Brazil

Kia used the Brazilian Motor Show in Sao Paulo to whip the covers off its first-ever Flexible Fuel Vehicle, the Soul Flex.

Based on the funky Soul that went on sale here in early 2009, the Flex variant is able to run on 100 percent ethanol, 100 percent unleaded or an ethanol-petrol mixture.

The bad news for us is that the vehicle has been designed specifically for the Brazilian market, where 'flex' models account for more than 85 percent of the new car sales.

There's a reason why the large South American nation has embraced ethanol-powered cars. Brazil is currently ranked second in the world in terms of ethanol production and, as a result, the fuel costs 40 percent less than petrol there.

As well as lower fuel costs, the industrial product tax (purchase tax) on new flex vehicles is only 11 percent -- 2 percent lower than petrol models.

The Soul Flex offers added USPs as Kia claims it's 44 per cent more fuel efficient than the existing petrol model. Power and torque outputs are also improved at 94kW and 162Nm (versus 91kW and 156Nm for the petrol sucker).

The Flex features a modified fuel injection and catalyst system and a higher compression ratio, and these changes combine to boost fuel economy, according to Kia.

Tweaks made to compensate for the more abrasive nature of ethanol fuel include reinforcing the fuel pump, pillar cap and fuel line, and fitting a petrol tank assistance system in order to aid engine ignition at low temperatures.

Kia says it plans to strengthen its presence in the Brazilian market by introducing new flex models into each market segment -- starting with an all-new Sportage FFV towards the end of 2011.

Brazil has been one of Kia's best performing markets so far in 2010, with sales up by 151 percent year-on-year, reaching 40,865 units up to the end of September.

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