New Kia Soul, Soul EV Coming to 2018 LA Auto Show

Intel on the arrival of the new Soul and Soul EV comes from the Hyundai-Kia obsessed folks over at Korean Car Blog. Kia itself hasn’t made an announcement, so take the report with a grain of salt, but we trust KCB in this scenario. Prototypes for the Soul and Soul EV have been consistently spotted all year long and the most recent sighting showed the vehicle looking very production-ready indeed, so the unveiling is definitely happening soon.

The new Soul is expected to tap the Hyundai Kona’s platform. The Kona supports all-wheel drive, so it’s possible that the Soul could finally receive it. The entry-level Soul should share the Kona’s 147 hp naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine, with Kia’s turbocharged 1.6-liter possibly appearing in better-equipped models. The Kona gets a seven-speed DCT transmission, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see it pop up in the Kona too.

SEE ALSO: EPA Rates 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Range at 258 Miles

As for the Soul EV, expect similar or identical specs to the Kona EV. If you need a refresher, the long-range version of the Kona EV has a 64 kWh battery pack that provides an EPA-certified 258 miles of range. Power comes from a single electric motor making 201 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque, which enables a 0-60 mph sprint of 7.6s and a top speed of 104 mph. The long-range Kona EV starts at 39,000 euros in Europe, which is equivalent to around $45,000 USD.

As for the new Soul’s styling, expect the slightly boxy shape to stick around. Spy shots have revealed a single-frame LED light bar out front, vertically-mounted LED taillights and other small changes, but we’re not expecting a dramatic shift in styling.

Look for the new Kia Soul and Soul EV to debut after the LA Auto Show press days kick off on November 27th.

[Source: Korean Car Blog]