Kia Soul hybrid spotted in China
Earlier today, we brought you latest Kia news from Shanghai Auto Show where the company has officially unveiled it’s Forte sedan and Sorento crossover to Chinese public. Before the auto show officially kicked off, someone spotted the Kia Soul hybrid, which has apparently been put on display alongside the afore-mentioned duo of vehicles.
It was in Paris when Kia first displayed it’s Soul hybrid. At that time, the vehicle was still in the concept form, but the company stated it could reach the production very soon. Kia Soul hybrid concept has been applied with Kia’s 1.6L gasoline engine mated to a continuously variable transmission -CVT and 20 horsepower electric motor.
It has also been equipped with Idle Stop&Go – ISG system and regenerative braking. The Soul hybrid concept has been designed to offer fuel consumption in the range of 48 mpg and a CO2 figure of 117 g/km.
Since this Soul hybrid differs from the one we have seen in Paris by not having the transparent bonnet, some of the automotive media believe it to be a production-ready Soul hybrid rather than a concept car. [Source: Auto.Sohu.com]
April 20th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Regenerative braking….those brakes look suspiciously like discs.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:00 am
nice. 48MPG would set this car apart from the other “boxes” and if they can keep it starting under $17-18000 I think you have a hit on your hands.
April 21st, 2009 at 3:08 am
Yayyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!! KIA!!!!
April 21st, 2009 at 4:18 am
the orange interior not much to my liking. I wanna see this car out soon!
April 21st, 2009 at 9:01 am
RELEASE IT NOW SO my mom doesn’t have to get a fucking Prius for a hybrid that she wants to get in about a year or so.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:04 am
The bonnet might not be transparrent, it certainly is not the same color!
April 21st, 2009 at 10:07 am
Kyle, the Soul Hyrbid has the same powertrain as the coming Elantra Hybrid, and if thats coming in September; then the Soul Hybrid might make it here as well in that time frame.
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Agreed-the Thai-o-ta Prius is an abomination of an automobile.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:20 pm
If Kia can get this out before gas prices go up this summer that would be nice but most likely it would be out a year after that. I suspect we will see a 2011 soul hybrid option in the market.