Kia's sharply-stylish new segment-busting Soul is set to win over minds as well as hearts at the Paris Motor Show next month with confirmation that the urban crossover will come to Europe next year with a choice of fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines.
Kia Soul will go on sale in mainland Europe next February with a choice 125bhp diesel and petrol engines based on the DOHC engines already fitted to the hugely successful, European-built, Kia cee'd. It will also come 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 126bhp at 4000 rpm and maximum torque of 255Nm at 2000 rpm. The all-aluminium petrol engine also produces 126bhp at 6300 rpm and 156Nm of torque at 4200 rpm. "The Kia Soul is a brand new urban crossover car packed with chic design, liberating ideas and cavernous passenger space for active people with busy lives," Paul Philpott, managing director of Kia in the UK, said.
"And we can't wait to see it on UK roads in Spring next year where its unique modern looks and strong individual appeal will make it a 'must-have' for everyone, from young singles and couples to more mature motorists who insist on putting fun into their driving."
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 1610 mm but the base of the windscreen is 135mm higher than a typical compact car, the hip-points are 120mm higher and the ground clearance is raised by 45mm.
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 (1020/1005mm front/rear), legroom (1070/990mm front/rear) and shoulder room (1403/1400mm front/rear) will ensure Soul can easily adapt to the changing demands of its owner when pressed into giving friends or family a lift!
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.
Soul will be manufactured at Kia's Gwangju facility in Korea from November 2008.
