What's all this about?
Kia has succumbed to the electric car zeitgeist and created an electric vehicle (EV) version of its Soul crossover. It costs £24,995, after the Government's £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant, and comes in just one, high-level specification.
What's the car's range like?
Kia says it has been researching EVs for almost 30 years, developing lithium-ion polymer batteries that are said to have a greater energy density (200 Watt-hours per kilogram of weight) than any comparable model. This gives the Soul EV a range of 132 miles on a single charge.
That's not bad. Any other tricks to eke out the amps?
The Soul EV has better aerodynamics than the conventionally powered models, a giveaway being the smooth front grille, plus super-low rolling resistance tyres, air conditioning that heats or cools only one side of the car with a lone driver and regenerative braking.
Tell me a bit more about the wider specification?
The batteries have a storage capacity of 27kWh, the car takes between 10 and 13 hours to recharge using 230V mains electricity and rapid charging can give the Soul EV 80 per cent of battery capacity in just 33 minutes. The electric motor in the Soul EV develops 81.4kW, or 111hp, with 285Nm of torque available instantly. This allows the Kia to hit 60mph from rest in 10.8 seconds and go on to 90mph. Furthermore, the manufacturer has fitted the EV with a Virtual Engine Sound for low-speed manoeuvring, to warn pedestrians and cyclists it's in motion.
You said a high-level trim earlier - what does the EV come with inside?
Standard EV features include an eight-inch touchscreen with European mapping, a reversing camera, heated front seats, keyless entry and go, projection headlights with LED daytime running lamps, 16-inch alloys, cruise control, electric windows all round, a heated steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and MP3 compatibility, front fog lamps and two charge points. Luggage capacity is down 31 litres over other Souls to 281 litres, while outside it comes in only two colours - Caribbean Blue metallic with a Clear White roof, or Titanium Silver metallic.
Any idea of how many Kia expects to sell?
Anywhere between 100 and 200 units in the first year of sales in the UK, with just 13 Kia dealers nationwide trained to sell the Soul EV.
Matt Robinson - 14 Nov 2014