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2014 Kia Soul totally redesigned, now bigger and more refined

Zach Bowman — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Crossover, Hatchback, Kia

The 2014 Kia Soul has been unveiled at the 2013 New York Auto Show, and the all-new five-door box-on-wheels offers up nearly an extra inch of wheelbase and a track that's wider by .6 inches. The changes offer up a bit more space indoors, and since overall height has remained the same, the Soul now looks a bit less top heavy than before. A wider rear hatch opening also makes loading and unloading cargo easier. Indoors, the 2014 Soul offers a substantially revised cabin with more soft-touch materials, and leather seats are now on the option sheet. Designers borrowed inspiration from the Kia Track'ster Concept indoors, using organic lines throughout.

An available eight-inch touch screen takes care of infotainment duties on the center stack, and now features the ability to scroll through content by flicking a finger, just like a smartphone, instead of paging through multiple screens. Buyers can also fit their 2014 Soul with a larger TFT LCD color screen in the instrument cluster, which now displays turn-by-turn directions on vehicles equipped with navigation.

Engineers managed to create a chassis that's also 29-percent stiffer, with 66 percent of the shell using ultra-high-strength steel for safety and rigidity. Under the hood, base models bow with a 1.6-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine with 130 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque, while Plus and Exclaim trims get a more potent direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder. That engine develops 164 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, and both mills can be bolted to either a six-speed manual or automatic depending on trim. Check out the full press release below for more information.

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2014 Kia Soul totally redesigned, now bigger and more refined originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia Soul EV to finally arrive in 2014

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Kia, Electric

With the 2014 Soul still in the testing phase, it sounds like Kia is planning to add an all-electric variant to its quirky hatchback's lineup. There aren't any solid details about the Kia Soul EV, but Autocar is reporting that the Korean automaker has confirmed this information and test mules have already been spotted near the company's Russelsheim, Germany technical HQ.

Autocar states that the electric Soul will bow in 2014, marking the first EV for the South Korean automaker. Before that, though, the redesigned 2014 Kia Soul will likely make its debut early next year either at the Chicago or New York Auto Show.

From what we've been able to see of the next Soul, it will retain the same angled roofline but could receive a front and rear styling along the lines of what we saw on the Track'ster Concept. Recent spy shots also revealed that a totally revamped interior will make its way into the new Soul. Convertible and three-door GT models are also possibilities for the next-gen Soul.

Kia Soul EV to finally arrive in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia readying GT and convertible Soul models?

George Kennedy — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Budget, Performance, Hatchback, Kia

Be it the upright seating arrangement, the utility in a compact package, or just buyers captivated by dancing hamsters, the Kia Soul has proven to be one of the Korean automaker's best-selling models. Its popularity has driven Kia to renew the funky hatch for the 2014 model year, perhaps with some unexpected variants.

The sleuths at CarPix have nabbed the next Soul testing in the desert, and even with the camouflage disguise, our spies say it looks like the redesign has left the Soul slightly lower and a little wider. Additionally, the headlights have a more squared-off, masculine appearance. This prototype features a larger lower grille, with the Kia corporate grille moved farther upward.

And while the prototype above is likely a look at the bread-and-butter model, AutoExpress is reporting the new generation may spawn a convertible variant. This appears to be purely rumor at this point and thus should be taken with one very big grain of salt, but Kia clearly has aspirations for the range beyond a single bodystyle. It has shown a number of envelope-pushing Soul-based concepts, including the Soul'ster pickup that sported an open roof. That concept was rumored to be headed for production at one time, but was later said to be killed due to the flaccid global economy.

A more likely spinoff is a Soul GT with augmented performance and sportier aesthetics. There is reason to believe that a GT model could come with a different bodystyle - after all, the Soul-based Track'ster concept that stole the Chicago Motor Show earlier this year was a three-door.

Either way, the Soul appears poised to be the last "box car" standing - The segment-pioneering Honda Element is already out of production and both the Scion xB and Nissan Cube face murky futures.

Kia readying GT and convertible Soul models? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Kia Soul prototype snapped testing

George Kennedy — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Kia

The redesigned 2014 Kia Soul has been snapped testing in the desert and its apparent that there will be plenty of changes both outside and inside. As you can see, the high-riding, abruptly angled profile will remain intact, as the redesign will be more of an evolution of the current hamster-hauler.

Through the heavy cladding, there is evidence of major revisions to the front and rear fascias. The headlights appear to have an LED strip similar to the forthcoming Forte redesign, while taillights have been rethought. The new Soul is said to ride on the same platform that underpins the Kia Rio, while the transmission is reportedly a dual-clutch gearbox sourced from the Hyundai Veloster. Also available will be a six-speed manual transmission.

Inside, the new interior features contrasting stitching, while the steering wheel has a clean layout, likely with voice-control toggles for the latest iteration of Kia's UVO system.

While the Soul has only been out for four years, its popularity in the market has inspired Kia to keep the hatchback continually fresh. We will see the first official shots of the 2014 Soul within the next year.

2014 Kia Soul prototype snapped testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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