Revealed: The Kia Trail’ster Idea, a Soul That Can Roll Off-Road

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Jacked up, toughened up, and fitted with electric AWD.

At the 2015 Chicago auto show, Kia revealed yet another Soul-based, ’ster-named notion: the Trail’ster, a plucky tiny crossover that hints at what an active-way of life Kia cute-ute could appear like. Following in the footsteps of Kia’s 2009 Soul’ster and 2012 Track’ster concepts, the Trail’ster is aimed at the “city-dweller-turned-outdoor-adventurer,” the type of purchaser who desires economy-automobile efficiency and size with some light off-road capability and functionality. (In other words, an individual who buys a Subaru XV Crosstrek.)

That means the Soul’s refrigerator-esque physique is lifted about 2.5 inches on KSport coilovers and rolls on 245/45-19 Pirelli Winter Carving tires. It is also fitted with a nifty all-wheel-drive program, which we’ll get to in a moment. The concept has aluminum skid plates, a roll-back canvas roof, and an integrated roof rack for your mountain bikes/snowboards/snowbikes or what ever active youth are hurtling down cliffs atop this week.

The style particulars are notably different from those on the hamster-boxes you see in your cul-de-sac. Painted a color named Polar Pearl Snowdrift and accented by a Terra Bronze Metallic roof and reduced cladding and anodized red trim, the colour palette was “inspired by the earthy combinations of springtime snow and mud, the terrain for which the Trail’ster has been developed,” Kia says. We’ve never ever felt really that inspired by the sight of snow and mud, but okay.

With square, K900-style projector headlights a thin, complete-width grille accent lights in the roof and side-view mirrors and prominent LED foglights in the reduced fascia, the concept’s aesthetic aims to be both premium and rugged. And y’know what? It pulls it off. Inside, earthy brown leather upholstery and polished aluminum accents are certainly more upmarket than you might expect from an outdoorsy runabout—we would have pictured less quilted leather and much more Gore-Tex.

Under the hood, you will not discover the present Soul’s naturally aspirated 1.6- or 2.-liter 4-cylinders. Alternatively, a 1.6-liter turbo 4 sends 185 horses and 185 lb-ft to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic.

“But wait,” you puzzle. “I thought you mentioned it was all-wheel drive.” It is: A 270-volt AC electric motor zaps 35 horses and 100 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels as needed. Kia utilizes the “through-the-road” descriptor for the hybrid drivetrain, which means there’s no mechanical connection amongst the front and rear drivetrains save for the road itself. That rear motivator comes on the internet as needed to boost acceleration, compensate for front-wheel slip, and mask turbo lag. Nifty. With each the internal-combustion engine and the electric rear motor at full song, the cutesy Kia moves to the tune of 220 horses and 285 lb-ft.

The electric rear drivetrain also makes it possible for the Trail’ster to putter about as an EV at low speeds, flipping into regen mode beneath braking to charge up the 1.2-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack located under the cargo floor. Among the hybrid drivetrain, the electrically driven A/C compressor, auto commence-quit functionality, and the downsized turbo engine, Kia says the Trail’ster could boost on the existing 2.-liter Soul’s fuel economy by as a lot as 30 % in the city and 10 % on the highway. That would mean someplace about 30/34 mpg on the EPA’s scale.

Kia is referring to the Trail’ster as a notion only, but it is not hard to picture that the firm desires a competitor to battle the mushrooming crop of butch baby crossovers. So though there’s no pricing or release date, don’t be surprised if somewhere down the line, Kia throws an AWD drivetrain and a small a lot more ground clearance below the Soul. It could not have the e-AWD system noticed in this concept car—that would be too complex and costly for a low-$ 20K conveyance—but we’d still welcome a Trail’ster-inspired Soul variant to the fray.

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Revealed: The Kia Trail’ster Idea, a Soul That Can Roll Off-Road

Soul Glow: Kia Soul EV Priced, Sits Mid-Pack Among Present Crop of Modest Electrics

Kia has just announced that its first-ever electric auto, the 2015 Soul EV, will join the electron-powered automobile fray in California by the finish of October at pre-federal-rebate beginning rates of $ 34,500 for the base model and $ 36,500 for the Plus. (The rebate will slash $ 7500 from the sticker.)

Regular goodies include a rear camera, Bluetooth connectivity, energy windows, cruise manage, a 6.6-kW onboard charger, and a unique climate-handle program developed to minimize energy use. The value also includes 5 years of UVO EV services, which utilizes an embedded Verizon telematics technique and an attendant smartphone app to give owners real-time battery state of charge and range data, heat or cool the interior remotely, as nicely as support search for nearby charging stations. Oh yeah, and it tosses in a navigation method, too. The EV Plus model adds seats upholstered in leather—heated for all outboard seats and cooled as properly for front-seaters—plus fog lamps and power-folding exterior mirrors.

Compared to the present crop of EVs, the Soul is priced higher than the 2015 Nissan Leaf ($ 29,860) and the 2015 Fiat 500e ($ 32,650), but comes in beneath the 2015 Ford Concentrate Electric ($ 35,995) and VW’s new e-Golf ($ 36,265). Element in the federal tax credit and regional government incentives, which stay fairly generous in California, and the value for any EV can come down considerably. An introductory lease price tag of $ 249 per month with $ 1999 down is also an alternative for the Soul EV.

Kia promises to start promoting the Soul EV in other markets that it has identified as having increasingly robust EV infrastructures beginning next year, which could contain as New York, New Jersey, and Maryland, amongst other states.

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Soul Glow: Kia Soul EV Priced, Sits Mid-Pack Among Present Crop of Modest Electrics

Soul Glow: Kia Soul EV Priced, Sits Mid-Pack Among Current Crop of Small Electrics

Kia has just announced that its first-ever electric car, the 2015 Soul EV, will join the electron-powered vehicle fray in California by the end of October at pre-federal-rebate starting prices of $ 34,500 for the base model and $ 36,500 for the Plus. (The rebate will slash $ 7500 from the sticker.)

Standard goodies include a rear camera, Bluetooth connectivity, power windows, cruise control, a 6.6-kW onboard charger, and a unique climate-control system designed to minimize energy use. The price also includes 5 years of UVO EV services, which uses an embedded Verizon telematics system and an attendant smartphone app to give owners real-time battery state of charge and range information, heat or cool the interior remotely, as well as help search for nearby charging stations. Oh yeah, and it tosses in a navigation system, too. The EV Plus model adds seats upholstered in leather—heated for all outboard seats and cooled as well for front-seaters—plus fog lamps and power-folding exterior mirrors.

Compared to the current crop of EVs, the Soul is priced higher than the 2015 Nissan Leaf ($ 29,860) and the 2015 Fiat 500e ($ 32,650), but comes in below the 2015 Ford Focus Electric ($ 35,995) and VW’s new e-Golf ($ 36,265). Factor in the federal tax credit and regional government incentives, which remain pretty generous in California, and the price for any EV can come down considerably. An introductory lease price of $ 249 per month with $ 1999 down is also an option for the Soul EV.

Kia promises to start selling the Soul EV in other markets that it has identified as having increasingly robust EV infrastructures starting next year, which may include as New York, New Jersey, and Maryland, among other states.

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Soul Glow: Kia Soul EV Priced, Sits Mid-Pack Among Current Crop of Small Electrics

Sweet Soul music?

If you’re searching for a compact loved ones motor which won’t break the bank, the Kia Soul could be worth thinking about.

The 2014 Kia Soul’s boxy exterior, roomy cabin and a decent-sized boot, which has been improved by 14 litres to 354 litres compared to its predecessor, will all appeal to families seeking for a vehicle which fits a lot of space into a small footprint.

Glove boxes and door bins are also generous, and there’s plenty of leg room for anybody sitting in the back – best for parents searching to minimise that pesky back-of-seat kicking on lengthy journeys.

Starter’s orders

There are 9 Kia Soul models offered, ranging from the Hatchback 1.6GDi Start off 5 door which charges £12,600 up to the Hatchback 1.6 CRDi Maxx 5 door costing £21,550.

The Start comes with a petrol engine only, a DAB radio and air-conditioning, as nicely as 16-inch steel wheels, but the trim isn’t as slick as those offered by its pricier counterparts.

The a lot more you spend, the more gadgets your Kia Soul will come with. The Connect Plus model, for instance, which expenses £17,500, comes with a sat-nav, touchscreen and climate control, as properly as a reversing camera.

If you’re going for one of the less expensive models, then you will only have the option of a 6-speed manual gearbox, but from Connect Plus upwards you will also have the choice of a 6-speed automatic gearbox if you favor.

Protected and safe

From a safety viewpoint, the camera and other measures makes the Kia Soul are challenging to beat.

Models come with 6 airbags and tyre stress monitors fitted as common, and earlier models of this automobile accomplished a 5-star security rating in Euro NCAP crash tests. The latest model has however to be tested but is anticipated to execute to an equally high common.

Nonetheless, there are downsides. The engine is not really economical or effective, and some have criticised its lack of a smooth ride and noticeable engine and wind noise.

Inside story

The familiar Kia use of a lot of black plastic in the cabin comes in for a bit of criticism also, even though contrast stitching on the seats does enhance the look of the interior. The much more you are prepared to invest, the far more desirable the interiors turn out to be, with the leading-priced Maxx coming comprehensive with leather upholstery and panoramic sunroof.

These concerns aside, the Kia Soul is properly worth a look for families on a budget. It also comes with a generous 6-year/ 25,000 mile warranty, offering peace of thoughts that you’ll be covered if one thing goes incorrect – not to be sniffed at given steep garage repair bills.

Rough and prepared?

One particular reviewer complained that you can feel road roughness even when the road looks even, though the automobile is praised for its stiff suspension, which gives excellent cornering capability.

Despite the fact that the Kia Soul is competitively priced, comparable models such as the Renault Captur SUV are less expensive to personal. If you are seeking for a green drive, this won’t be the automobile for you either, as even with begin-quit technologies, which turns the engine off automatically when the automobile sops, the 1.6-litre diesel engine has an 132g/km CO2 output, which is higher relative to rival models.

For example, the Nissan Juke can do 64.4mpg compared to the Soul’s 56/5mpg and emits just 104g/km of CO2.

Taxing occasions

The petrol 1.6-litre engine, meanwhile, has an even significantly less economical CO2 output of 158g/km and will do 41.5mpg if you are driving either the Begin, Connect or Connect Plus models.

As a outcome, road tax is a hefty £180, but is even steeper for the Mixx and Maxx petrol models, which do 38.7mpg and have CO2 emissions of 170g/km. Even so, Kia plans to bring an all-electric version of the Soul to the UK later this year, which could effectively be worth waiting for if low running costs and zero emissions are a priority.

Sweet Soul music?