What's all this about?
Kia has announced an addition to the Soul range, the 1.6 T-GDI, which will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show. UK deliveries will start later this year.
What's new?
The new Soul variant is powered by a 201hp 1.6-litre T-GDI (turbo gasoline direct injection) engine, which is shared with the cee'd GT and pro_cee'd GT. Power gets to the ground through a seven-speed double-clutch transmission with no manual alternative. The manufacturer's performance figures are 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds, a top speed of 122mph with CO2 emissions of 156g/km.
New brakes, 17-inch ventilated front disks that slightly reduce the stopping distance from 60mph, from 35.5 metres down to 35.3 metres, have been fitted to ensure fade free braking performance under repeated use.
How do you spot the new model?
Look out for the new front bumper and air intake grille design with red highlights to the front bumper and side sills. There are also twin exhaust pipes at the rear and 10-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels.
Anything new inside?
The new model features its own cabin colour scheme, with black cloth and leather upholstery paired with orange stitching. There are orange highlights throughout the cabin, including orange metal paint on the gearstick, plus a D-shaped steering wheel.
What about the rest of the range?
The 2017 Soul range gets remodelled front and rear bumpers with a metallic skid plate. Bi-function HID headlights with LED daytime running lights are optional. New fog lamps and reflectors update the rear of the car. In addition, the front wheel arches get a gloss black finish and a body kit is available on selected models.
Gloss black and metallic highlights and switchgear are part of the interior update. New technologies include a choice of five, seven or eight-inch colour touchscreens. These provide smartphone-style control over the navigation system, etc. Apple CarPlay (for iPhone 5 or newer) and Android Auto (for Android 5.0 Lollipop or newer) are available for smartphone integration. The back seat passengers get a USB port for charging mobile devices.
Safety is improved with the adoption of Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), giving drivers better all-round visibility on motorways and during parking manoeuvres.
John Lambert - 26 Sep 2016
