2015 Kia Soul EV
The 2015 Kia Soul EV promises up to 100 miles of driving range with most of the cargo space of the conventional Soul.

CHICAGO — Kia unveiled the Soul EV as its first all-electric car to be sold in the U.S. Based on its boxy gas-powered sibling, the Soul EV is promoted as having an 80-100-mile range, while the popular Nissan Leaf is EPA-rated at 84 miles.

The 2015 Kia Soul EV

A 109-hp electric motor is projected to give it an 11-second 0-60-mph time, about the same as the Leaf’s. Despite packing a 27-kilowatt-hour battery, Soul EV retains 91 percent of the conventional Soul’s cargo space.

The 2015 Kia Soul EV
One of Kia’s now familiar hamsters helped roll out Kia’s new electric Soul.

Also on the Kia stand is a facelifted version of the Kia Optima Hybrid, including new Hybrid-exclusive front and rear fascias, lighter-weight alloy wheels, and a redesigned instrument panel with a larger touch screen.

CG Says:

Details are sketchy, but Kia’s new electric Soul may only be available in a few markets when it debuts this fall. Still, we’re big fans of the practical and slightly quirky Soul, and look forward to spending some time with the first zero-emissions Korean-brand vehicle.

We drive the 2014 Kia Soul ! (Exclaim)

 

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