It was previously thought that Kia Motors unveiled a production-ready Soul hybrid at Shanghai Auto Show, but soon after the wraps were taken off it became clear that the company has brought the same concept version to China as it was displayed at Paris Auto Show last year.
Visually, the Soul hybrid concept does not differ much from a production model. As a matter of fact, the sole difference that one can find is the transparent bonnet which allows auto-show-visitor to take a sneak peak preview at Kia’s advanced hybrid powertrain, that could soon become a production reality and could be applied to some of the compact and sub-compact Kia cars.
Inside the cabin, the Soul hybrid concept differentiates by having a digital circular dials and an orange-black two tone interior combination. The rest has been kept unchanged.
The Soul hybrid is powered by 1.6L gasoline engine coupled to 20 hp electric motor and CVT transmission. According to Kia, it returns an average fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km or 48MPG – US and brings carbon dioxide emissions down by 26 percent to just 117 g/km.
Kia Soul hybrid also features an innovative Idle-Stop-Go (ISG) system that automatically switches the engine off -when the car is stopped in a heavy traffic- and on again when the traffic moves. The ISG technology has just recently been applied to the cee’d hatchback and is already on sale in Europe. [Image source: Auto.Sohu.com ]
April 25th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
4.9L/100kms, thats brilliant!
April 25th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I agree, thet’s low consumption, but at the other hand, a diesel powered Soul achieves very close numbers of just above 5L/100 km. If it had an ISG system it could be at the same consumption levels as hybrid Soul.
-
April 25th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I don’t get my Soul Diesel below 6.5!
April 25th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I think I have seen a brochure that says 5.2L / 100 km for the 1.6L CRDI. Do you drive mostly in the city Bornloser?
April 25th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
your soul will be so new… the engines probly hasnt broken in
April 26th, 2009 at 7:45 am
They say the break in Period for Hyundai/KIA B and C segment powertrains is about 60,000-75,000 miles.
Anyway, this must be the next gen B/C segment hybrid powertrain. The first gen, is in those Accents and Rios with a 20 HP electric motor matted to a Getz/Picanto Engine, sold in China and to the Korean Government.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:27 pm
i wonder if we will see this in america. Kia needs to bring Diesel or a quality hybrid to the america market.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:17 am
I just drove a Soul Exclaim around the lot for a little bit. Some thoughts on what the Soul (for the USA) could use: I think it would be great with AWD. Considering it’s slightly higher position, and it’s very similar in size to the previous generation Sportage, it could work for minor off-road stuff. Also could use heated mirrors (considering the Rio is available with them) and Daytime Running Lamps- the dash lights up whether your lights are on or off, so having DRL would prevent people from driving at night with their lights off, and not knowing since the dash is illuminated. I’ve seen this happen, not frequently, but enough that it is an issue. Not just Kia, but any manufacturer with the illuminated dashes and without DRLs. I also wish Kia would allow the (front) foglights to illuminate with the parking lamps, not only with the low beams. I know Nissan does this, and all of the American automakers, and possibly Audi and some others…
-
Just some thoughts!
May 7th, 2009 at 3:49 am
I’m sorry, but I honestly think that fog lights with parking lights looks kind of stupid. Just my opinion though. Personally, I wish it had AWD, too. I love our heated mirrors. Even turning them on after coming out of the car wash helps them dry without spots, not to mention melting snow in the winter. We always leave our headlights in the “auto” position. Too bad the Soul doesn’t have that.
July 13th, 2011 at 5:15 pm
I have a ! and would love for it to be availbale as a Hybrid All Wheel Drive. It would smoke anything in its class as well as give Subaru a challenge. Come On KIA – do a great thing and make a Hybrid AWD!!!