Kia’s sharply-stylish new segment-busting Soul is set to win over minds as well as hearts at the Paris Salon de l’Automobile in October with confirmation that the urban crossover will come to Europe next year with a choice of fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines.
Soul is a five-door hatchback with front-wheel drive, a high roofline and an unusually long wheelbase. The key elements behind Soul’s striking appearance are its vertical measurements. Overall height is 1,610 mm but the base of the windscreen is 135 mm higher than a typical compact car, the hip-points are 120 mm higher and the ground clearance is raised by 45 mm.
Access to the new Kia Soul’s spacious interior is remarkably easy and the cabin will deliver head, leg and shoulder room that matches or beats many larger vehicles. Generous headroom (1020/1005 mm front/rear), legroom (1070/990 mm front/rear) and shoulder room (1403/1400 mm front/rear) will ensure Soul can easily adapt to the changing demands of its owner when pressed into giving friends or family a lift!
Kia Soul will go on sale in mainland Europe next February with a choice 126 ps diesel and petrol engines based on the DOHC engines already fitted to the hugely successful, European-built, Kia cee’d - with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, depending on model. Right-hand drive production is due to start in March.
The diesel engine generates 126 ps at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 255 Nm at 2,000 rpm, while the all-aluminium petrol engine also produces 126 ps at 6,300 rpm and 156 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm.
Looking ahead to the Paris Show debut, Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer, Kia Motors Europe, commented: “Soul is about surprise and style and the experience of sitting in the Soul is unique. First impressions will make a big impact.
Tall doors and high-mounted seats make for easy access and an airy interior, yet the ‘laid-back’ dashboard design, triple dial instrument cluster and thick-rimmed steering wheel create an unusual combination of spaciousness for passengers and cosiness for the driver generating a very special ambience.”
Kia Soul will make its world premiere on the Kia stand (No 520, Hall 5) at the Paris International Motor Show at 16.45 hrs on 2 October 2008.
Soul will be manufactured at Kia’s Gwangju facility in Korea from November 2008. In the USA and several non-European markets a 2-litre, 142 ps petrol engine will also be available. [Source: Kia UK]
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September 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
thats a really powerful 2.0L. anyway, 126 is fine too. thats what we’ll take [1.6L] with auto tranny. Anyinfo on speed, fuel consumption etc?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I might take one with the 2.0. This thing looks really sweet. I am very happy. The look is starting to grow on me.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
hey wait a min. look at the exterior shots closely. looks like its got brown [or red?] seats!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
They look suspiciously brown to me!! Damn, this thing is going to be customizable!! I just hope that they don’t postpone the introduction like they did with the Borrego.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
hehehe white!!!! luv it~
oh and the seats look red to me….
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
well, not everyones’ screen display setting is the same. it will appear red to some. but I think its brown. the red interior had only a red dash and red lights ’round the speakers. the seats were black. so there more chance its brown
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
guys this is from a korean site and what we can understand here is the the 1.6L petrol achieves 13.8km/l and the 1.6 diesel achieves 15.8km/l
quote: 1.6 ??? ??? ???? 124??, ?? 13.8km/?, 1.6 ?? ??? ???? 128??, ?? 15.8 km/? ??. (????? ??)
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
and here this shows the engine displacement and then there’s a ‘4′ and a ‘5′. which probably tells that it will be mated with a 4-speed or 5 speed trany. 4 speed must be the auto and 5 speed manual
quote: ???? 1,600cc ? 2,000cc ??? ??? 1,600cc VGT ?? ??? ????, 4 ? ?????? 5 ? ?????? ????.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
will the U.S. get those side blinkers? Also, I hope it comes with 5-speeds across the board.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:38 pm
As I said above, its 4-speed auto and 5-speed manual
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:53 pm
boris, i saw a reddish brown color interior on the green soul. i LOVE the houndstooth seats, i was already planning on having that done aftermarket but if they’re gunna give it to me stock, i’ll take it! i love houndstooth. i’m just really falling in love with this car, its amazing.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:58 pm
*sigh* at 4-speed auto. That may very well negate the gains in FE of the 2.0L Theta over the Beta. Oh well, maybe if it weighs less than 3000lbs all hope isn’t lost. The auto press isn’t going to like this, though.
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
yeah, I see the brown seats too. When I buy one, it will be cocktail orange with brown interior. it will most probably be a brown-black combo.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
There’s a pic of a possible 7-seater soul on the forum!!! check it out! click me name!
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Dam, is this still Kia world?
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:33 am
JTZ, what do you mean?
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:36 am
Boris, that “7-seater-soul” isn’t legit. the shadow underneath the car doesn’t match up to its length, the white towards the back implies it isn’t real as well. as does the rear quarter window jutting up just a bit where it meets with the back door. i call shannanogans.
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:45 am
JoshyLoft i mean that I can’t believe this is Kia. I was just being metaphoric that’s all. I spelt dam so that I wouldn’t swear. That’s all.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:29 am
gotcha. i’m a blonde.
haha.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I just saw the Nissan Cube concept and some spyshots. of it. That thing looks like the 1999 Kia Retona Cruiser. Tht thing is ugly.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I don’t like the Cube at all! It looks funny with those small wheels…like a toy!
September 4th, 2008 at 12:13 am
If you ask me, the Cube is sorta risky for Nissan on account that I don’t hear much about the Sentra nor Versa like I hear about Spectra/Cerato, Corolla, Civic or Lancer. I don’t even see a lot of C or B segment Nissans on the road. The only nissans I see is Murano, Altima and Maxima. So I can stay on topic I’m just going to say this, ” I’m not at all worried about the Soul’s newest rival.” “Not one bit.”
September 4th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
HEY MODERATOR! Kiamedia has some GIANT photos up!
http://www.kiamedia.com/secure/soul2010-photos.php
September 6th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
The Nissan Cube looks like childs-play compared to Kia’s new Soul. Period.