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NEWS
NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Kia uncovers all-new Soul
Kia reprises its original urban fun machine with the second-generation SoulMore room, more premium features, improved driving dynamics and head-turning looks that remain faithful to the edgy Track’ster concept that previewed it are the key attributes of Kia’s second-generation Soul.
Revealed today at the 113th New York motor show and likely to go on sale in Australia early next year, Kia claims the follow-up to its original urban utility vehicle is more fun, funky and functional than ever.
Kia says the longer and wider new Soul offers more passenger and cargo space, and a stiffer chassis and upgraded suspension reduce noise, vibration and harshness levels while improving handling dynamics.
The MkII Soul body is claimed to be almost 29 per cent more torsionally rigid than its predecessor, as well as larger in all key dimensions except height, which remains 1610mm.
Wheelbase is 20mm longer at 2570mm, while overall width increases 15mm to 1800mm and the tailgate is 61mm wider than before, offering better access to the larger cargo area.
Front and rear head and legroom also increases slightly, as does front shoulder room, while marginally lower step-in and hip points are said to make ingress/egress easier.
The MkII Soul is equal parts form and function, however, and remains instantly recognisable as a successor to the ground-breaking original Soul, as well as being inspired by last year’s striking Track’ster concept.
Designed in the US and engineered in Korea, Kia says the new Soul went from design freeze to production in just 18 months, headlined by the same upright stance, square shoulders and distinctive fender flares as the original.
The chief designer at Kia’s California design studio, Tom Kearns, likened the Track’ster to a bulldog and said the theme is expressed from most angles of the new Soul.
“The all-new Soul was one of the more difficult assignments we’ve taken on,” he said. “Striking the right balance between the wonderful design of the current car with the audacious proportions and stance of the Track’ster was daunting.
“It proved to be a truly collaborative effort with guidance from Peter Schreyer in Frankfurt and assistance from our studio in Korea. In the end, we’ve kept the essence of Soul while infusing it with more presence inside and out.”
A wraparound greenhouse, high-mounted tail-lights and tall ride height continue to be Soul hallmarks, and are now joined by premium touches like optional LED front positioning lights and rear LED ‘halo’ lights similar to those on the new Sorento SUV and upcoming Cerato sedan.
Direct from the Track’ster are the trapezoidal lower air intake below the signature Kia grille and the ‘floating’ body color panel inset into the lift gate.
The 2014 Soul will be available in seven new exterior colours, including the two seen in New York – Solar Yellow and Inferno Red.
Inside, the use of expansion foam instead of block foam in body cavities, a reinforced isolation pad in the cargo area and poly-urethane-layered carpet is claimed to reduce overall interior noise levels by approximately 3dB.
Kia aimed for a more premium interior look and feel via soft-touch surfaces on the instrument panel, center console and door panels, high-gloss piano-black trims on the centre console and dash, and optional leather trim for the new seats with improved lateral and thigh support.
Again reflecting the Track’ster, the new Soul builds on the original’s circular interior theme, with a triple-circle instrument cluster housing deeply recessed gauges, sculpted door panel circles incorporating the power window switches and door locks, front door-mounted speakers mirroring circular, high-mounted ‘floating’ tweeters, a round push-button starter and gearshift knob in the centre console and the Soul’s exclusive steering wheel featuring controls in circular groupings along the lower spokes.
Three trim levels – Base, Plus and Exclaim – will be offered in the US when the Soul goes on sale there in the third quarter of this year.
Australian specs are yet to be finalised, but in the US the new Soul will be available with an eight-inch touch-screen incorporating Kia’s second-generation telematics, navigation and infotainment system, UVO eServices.
The latter is compatible with iPhone and Android smartphones, integrates Pandora internet radio and presents turn-by-turn navigation instructions in a larger TFT LCD colour Supervision Cluster in the instrument binnacle.
North America’s Base Soul will come standard with power windows, door locks and (heated) outside mirrors, a telescoping steering wheel, six-speaker AM/FM/MP3 audio unit with Bluetooth connectivity and USB/AUX inputs, and the option of 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control and a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Soul Plus adds 17-inch alloy wheels, mirror-mounted indicators, automatic headlights, unique bumper trim, a floor console stowage box with integrated arm rest, reversing camera, centre rear armrest and an array of options.
They include navigation, an upgraded Infinity sound system, “string-LED” front speaker surround mood lighting, foglights, a panoramic sunroof, leather seat trim, ventilated front seats, four heated seats, a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, steering wheel heating and a leather-clad steering wheel and gearshifter.
The Soul Exclaim adds 18-inch alloy wheels, foglights, body-color bumper ‘tusks’ projector headlights, front LED positioning lights, rear LED ‘halo’ light, high-gloss piano-black centre console finish, cooled glovebox, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshifter, 10-way power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment and auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Soul Exclaim options include navigation, Infinity audio, front speaker LED mood lighting, panoramic sunroof, leather trim, front seat ventilation, four heated seats, the TFT LCD Supervision Cluster, HID headlights, push-button starting and automatic climate-control.
Kia says the Soul’s ride and handling have been improved by heavily revised suspension systems at both ends, including the fitment of four bushings in the front subframe, moving the MacPherson strut front suspension’s anti-roll bar rearward and moving the steering box forward.
While the latter is claimed to improve on-centre feel, a stronger new one-piece (instead of two-piece, as in the current Soul) steering gear housing is said to improve steering response. Kia’s optional Flex Steer system allows drivers to select from three steering settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport.
Rounding out the chassis upgrades are longer vertical (no longer angled) shock absorbers for the torsion bar rear suspension, increasing suspension travel and improving ride comfort.
Under the new Soul’s bonnet at base level is 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.
Matched to six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, Kia says both engines offer marginally more torque, but makes no mention of the 1.6-litre diesel engine available in the current Soul in Australia.
“When the first Soul was introduced in 2009, everyone at Kia believed we had a hit on our hands, but we didn’t realize how big that hit was going to be,” said Kia Motors America’s Executive Vice-President of Marketing and Communications, Michael Sprague.
“The Soul moved the needle significantly from a sales and marketing perspective, becoming one of our top-selling cars and inspiring the now-legendary hamster commercials. It was important that the all-new Soul remain true to the original iconic design while infusing it with improved driving dynamics and desirable features that add appeal, sophistication and value.”
The Soul remains very much a niche model in Australia, where just 353 examples were sold last year – 18 per cent down on 2011 figures.
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Written byMarton Pettendy
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