2015 Kia Soul EV First Test

The 2015 Kia Soul EV is more than just an electron-sipping version of the new-for-2014 Soul. Developed concurrently with its gas-swilling sibling, Kia designed the 2015 Soul EV from the ground up to be an electric car its owners wouldn't be afraid to drive every day, thanks to standard Level 3 quick-charging and an EPA-estimated 93 miles of range.

Visually, the Soul EV should tick all of the boxes electric car buyers want to check. Already a bit of an oddball in gas form, the Soul EV sports a more aerodynamically clean exterior design with its grille replaced by a charging port, new headlights and bumpers, and flat-faced wheels. Knowing full well who buys EVs, Kia loaded the Soul EV's interior with eco-friendly and techy gizmos it hopes its buyers will love. The Soul EV features a unique instrument cluster and an Apple-esque white interior trim, and it uses a custom version of Kia's Uvo infotainment system. This new version of Uvo can get pretty geeky: It does everything from show the electric car's maximum range on top of a digital map to showing you exactly how much electricity things such as the headlights, windshield wipers, turn signals, and more are using. As for those eco-friendly features, the Soul EV sports an air-conditioning mode that only blows air on the driver if they happen to be traveling solo, and it uses sugarcane and corn-based materials throughout the cabin.

 

The Soul EV's powertrain is more interesting than its looks. The vehicle is powered by a water-cooled AC synchronous permanent magnet electric motor good for 109 hp and 210 lb-ft of twist mated to a one-speed automatic. Backing the battery up is an SK Innovations-built 27 kW-hr lithium-ion polymer battery that Kia says is incredibly energy-dense for its size. EPA test figures would appear to support that: The Soul EV is good for 93 miles on the EPA cycle, turning 120/92/105 city/highway/combined mpg-e. Well aware of how popular Tesla's proprietary "Supercharger" fast-charging network is, Kia's attempting to do the same with the Soul EV, albeit on a much smaller scale. Seventeen Kia dealers across California will be equipped with Level 3 fast chargers, which the automaker says can charge the Soul EV from empty to 80 percent full in just 33 minutes. All Soul EV buyers will get a charge-up card to access the Level 3 network for free. The Soul EV's other charging options consist of a Level 2 home charger that will fully charge the Soul's battery in 4-5 hours and a Level 1 charger that plugs into a normal wall outlet, charging the battery from empty in up to 24 hours.

As interesting as the Soul EV might be intellectually, its test numbers are somewhat less so. The Soul EV needs 9.2 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph and 17.0 seconds to complete the quarter mile at 80.4 mph. Braking from 60 mph takes 126 feet. Throw a corner the Soul EV's way, and it'll lap the figure eight in 28.6 seconds at an 0.64g average. Those figures are about par for the segment, with the Soul EV just a tenth of a second slower to 60 mph than the Volkswagen e-Golf, though significantly slower than both the Chevrolet Spark EV and BMW i3, which needed 7.5 seconds and 6.4 seconds, respectively, to hit 60 mph from a standstill.

The Soul EV drives much better than its test numbers would suggest. The one thing the gas-powered Kia Soul is missing is torque, and the Soul EV has tons of it. The electric Soul rips off the line faster than its numbers would suggest, and it accelerates from any speed quickly thanks to that always-available torque. Like most other electric cars, the Soul EV's transmission has two drive modes: Drive and Brake, the latter of which acts as a low-range of sorts. In Brake mode, the regenerative brakes are heavily dialed up to maximize range, meaning you can drive the Soul just using throttle inputs. Drive cranks down the automatic regenerative braking, allowing the Soul EV to coast like a traditional gas-powered car does. Drive ends up being better-suited for highway work, while Brake is best for zipping around town.

Although electric-car buyers around the country might be intrigued by the 2015 Soul EV, it's currently only available in California, but Kia says it's looking at other markets, including Oregon, New York, and Georgia. The Soul EV is currently only available in one trim, though a higher-lower spec model is coming. The 2015 Kia Soul EV starts at $36,500, with our carpeted floor mat-equipped tester coming in at $36,625. With federal incentives, that price drops $7,500 to $29,125. Add California's $2,500 rebate into the mix, and you're looking at a $26,625 Soul, which Kia says you can lease for just $249 per month.

 

The 2015 Kia Soul EV ultimately does many things well. It's great to drive, economical with near segment-best range, and it's just weird-looking enough that it'll let its drivers show off how green they are without turning off those just looking to save a few thousand bucks per year commuting. The Soul EV has in-your-face eco-cred and is a great all-around car, and that ought to help Kia tempt buyers out of BMW i3s and Fiat 500es and into its showrooms.

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2016 Kia Sorento Bound for 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show

The all-new 2016 Kia Sorento SUV will debut at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia Motors America announced on Wednesday.

"Beautifully redesigned inside and out, the 2016 Sorento is larger than the previous generation and offers up to three rows of seating," the Korean automaker said in a statement.

A single teaser photo of the 2016 Sorento shows an evolutionary styling change. The Sorento gets a larger grille and fancier headlights, all designed to give it more road presence.

A Kia Motors America spokesman told Edmunds he could not provide any more information at this point, including pricing and on-sale date.

Kia said the 2016 Sorento will be available in five trim levels.

The Sorento was revised for 2014. It rides on a new platform that yields more space in the third row.

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Kia Sportage 1.6-litre

Kia's hugely improved third generation Sportage is stiff competition for both Qashqai-like Crossovers and RAV4-like compact SUVs. Even in entry-level front-drive, 1.6-litre form, it's a very complete - and very desirable - family car.

Behind the wheel, the feeling is far more RAV4 and Freelander SUV-like than the more ordinary family hatch-like feel of the Nissan Qashqais and Peugeot 3008s that Kia says this car competes against. A lot of buyers will think that a very good thing. It's certainly impressive the way that the designers have managed to combine a commanding driving position with a seat that's easy to slide in and out of. High-sided flanks, a nose invisible from the driver's seat and a small rear window do make this a car that demands a little adjustment if you're trading up from something more conventional, but once you adapt, you should find the Sportage to be an easy thing to live with.

Of course, the car isn't intended for those planning a jungle expedition. It'll be equally ineffective if you want to corner Lewis Hamilton-like on your door handles, a pastime far more suited in this sector to cars like Ford's Kuga or Nissan Qashqai. So what exactly does it offer? Well, something that's probably far better suited to the kind of driving that most potential family buyers will actually do: a softer, more relaxed approach that balances body control, handling response and ride comfort aided by hi-tech multi-link rear suspension in a very impressive fashion. If the Koreans could make the variable assistance power steering a little more feelsome, it'd be even better still. The 1.6-litre variant's petrol engine isn't any ball of fire, but rest to 62mph in 10.7s en route to 111mph should be enough for most.

Talk about subtle. The exterior styling changes to the latest Sportage will have most of you scratching your heads, even with the old and new cars parked next to one another. Perhaps that's a testament to the fact that the design has aged extremely well and still looks pin-sharp. I'm not going to be the one who accuses Kia's design studio of laziness. The differences are a slightly smarter front grille, revised tail light clusters, revised alloy wheel designs and a shark fin antenna for some trim grades. Inside there's a soft 'nano' paint finish on the dashboard and centre console, better illumination and soft-touch upper door trims. The door-mounted audio tweeters have been repositioned to enhance sound quality.

Otherwise, it's still as practical as ever. It just feels a little better built. The generous dimensions of the Sportage are carried over. There's a substantial boot measuring in at 564-litres when the rear seats are occupied - or 1,353-litres when they're folded down. Storage space inside the Sportage includes a six-litre centre console bin, large door pockets and a glovebox that's air-conditioned on some models.

Provided that you're not expecting a really sporty Crossover or an off-roader in the traditional sense of the word, it's hard to see how this improved Kia Sportage would disappoint. It's well built, it rides well, there's a strong range of engines and it looks great.

This South Korean brand has made huge strides in terms of design sophistication, engine efficiency and marketing savvy in recent years, all of which is reflected in this car. With Kias of the past, you used to need a spreadsheet to explain the rationale behind your buying decision. Now all you need is a photo.

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KIA CELEBRATES CHAMPIONSHIP-WINNING SEASON ON THE TRACK WITH “A DAY AT THE RACES” THEME AT 2014 SEMA SHOW

·         Four highly customized, hand-built concepts offer a glimpse into the fun and excitement Kia Racing fans experience when spending a day at the races

·         Ballast Point Sedona and Smitten Ice Cream Soul EV embrace the tastier side of trackside festivities with handcrafted brews and a high-tech take on the traditional ice cream truck

·         High-Performance K900 and Ultimate Karting Sedona bring the thrill of the race track in unexpected ways

·         Championship-winning Kia Racing Optima unveiled with new paint scheme for 2015 Pirelli World Challenge season

LAS VEGAS, November 4, 2014 – Kia Motors America (KMA) today brought the sights and sounds of the race track to the opening day of the 2014 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.  Just five years after the brand boldly announced its intention to enter professional motorsports in the U.S. at the 2009 SEMA Show, KMA marked its second title-winning season, celebrating the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge Manufacturers Championship.  Kia’s “A Day at the Races” 2014 SEMA display commemorates Kia's racing success and demonstrates the imprint motorsports has left on the brand’s DNA, encompassing both the thrill of high-speed competition as well as the fun and excitement that fans experience trackside.

“Competing – and winning – in the Pirelli World Challenge series allows Kia to provide tangible proof of the quality, durability, reliability and performance of the vehicles we build,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, sales & marketing, KMA.  “This year’s SEMA show gives us the opportunity to celebrate our hard-fought championships while also embracing the fun and excitement of the fan experience in a way that only Kia could do.”

While two of the vehicles are inspired by the festive atmosphere fans of the Kia Racing team experience during a day at the track with family and friends, the others pay homage to the raw performance and unique style that has permeated Kia’s five years of U.S. racing success.  And at the center of it all is the championship-winning Optima race car, sporting a new look for the 2015 season.

Ballast Point Sedona

One of the most heavily modified SEMA vehicles Kia has ever produced, the Ballast Point Sedona takes infield fun during a day at the races very seriously. Serving the premium, handcrafted beers from Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits, the steel roof of the Sedona has been completely redesigned to echo the nautical theme the specialty brewer is known for.

The Ballast Point Sedona features a hand-formed solid mahogany shell with a flip-top roof and fold-down front bar. Removing the roof required the installation of a custom boxed-steel frame that incorporates heavy-duty hinges and struts to allow for the wood clam-shell top to open a full 90 degrees. While one of the Sedona’s power sliding doors has been welded shut, the other remains fully functional to allow access for a bartender into the open-air cabin.  The rear shell is also removable, allowing patrons to enjoy a frosty beverage from the tailgate as well.  The passenger compartment has been gutted to make room for two functioning Micro Matic taps, a jockey box with 120-feet of copper beer-cooling coils and up to four half-barrel kegs of Ballast Point’s finest.  The front passenger seat has been removed to accommodate storage for extra kegs and supplies.

Hand-built and painted by the artists at LGE-CTS Motorsports, the shimmering rainbow of colors found on Ballast Point’s labels are rendered perfectly along the aggressive contours of the Sedona’s body panels.  While not street legal, the Ballast Point Sedona is drivable and the suspension has been modified with custom airbags to compensate for the added weight of the kegs.  The floor has been lined so that the interior can be hosed out and handmade custom cabinets allow for ample storage.  Restaurant-grade stainless steel counters and a hidden tank to store meltwater from the jockey box make clean-up a breeze.  Audio speakers have been integrated into the wood roof so that race fans can enjoy music through the Sedona’s Bluetooth enabled Infinity audio system.

Built in partnership between Kia and Ballast Point, following the SEMA show, this Sedona will serve as a fully functioning marketing display vehicle for the San Diego-based craft brewery.  When not on tour in 2015, it will be on display at Ballast Point’s flagship restaurant and tap room in San Diego, California.

Smitten Ice Cream Soul EV

Ice cream is always a favorite at racetracks across the country, and few vehicles are as iconic as the classic ice cream truck.  For its more modern take on the musical, treat-serving truck, Kia teamed with San Francisco-based Smitten Ice Cream, matching up its high-tech zero-emissions Soul EV with Smitten’s high-tech patented Brrr™ ice cream machine.  Founded by a Stanford business school graduate, Smitten creates world-class churned-to-order treats with all-natural and organic ingredients using liquid nitrogen to freeze the ingredients at -321 degrees Fahrenheit, making the freshest, purist and creamiest ice cream on the planet.

Customized by Gallagher Designs, the Smitten Ice Cream truck and trailer has been transformed to a modern delivery delight with a custom paint job in pearl cherry red.  Detailed red and white leather upholstery and interior paneling complement the sleek exterior.  Tailor-made red smoothie wheels with baby moon caps add a sporty/hotrod feel to this modern structure with classic lines.

To operate as a functioning ice cream truck, a custom hemlock cab divider has been constructed to separate the driver from the Smitten Ice Cream equipment.  The side doors open to reveal a compartment specifically designed to store dewars, the custom tanks filled with the liquid nitrogen needed to instantly freeze Smitten’s ice cream.  Shaved door handles open with an electronic latch and LEDs have been installed to spotlight the patented Brrr™ ice cream machine and the table work space.  Silver accents follow existing lines on the car to tie the vehicle to the trailer and give a subtle nod to classic car culture.

The back windows of the Soul EV are tinted black to serve as menu boards to display flavors, farm-to-table ingredients and daily specials.  From the finished back cavity, a pull-out table has been specifically designed to accommodate Smitten’s Brrristas™ and their “wagoneering” workflow, which can be set in a linear or 90-degree-angle layout.  Three marine speakers built into custom aluminum “waffle” cones, a fresh take on traditional ice cream truck loudspeakers, sit atop the Soul EV and emit a modern version of the classic tune that ice cream trucks have been playing for decades in neighborhoods across America.  Custom school bus-type “Stop” signs with LED lights fold out from the rear panels of the vehicle as another small homage to old-school ice cream trucks.

The lightweight aluminum teardrop trailer adds nostalgia to the Smitten Soul EV while providing added storage and functionality.  Both the car and the trailer have matching cherry red exteriors, and the bottom third of the trailer is silver, drawing from the silver accents on the car.  A hatch on the back of the trailer allows access to a spacious storage area, and stainless steel counter tops slide into channels on the sides of the trailer to display Smitten’s gourmet pairings.

Kia and Smitten Ice Cream have partnered to create a Soul EV that’s as unique as Smitten’s deliciously fresh-frozen treats.  Following the SEMA show, the street-legal Smitten Soul EV will operate as a catering/marketing display vehicle for the Smitten Ice Cream Company.

High-Performance K900

Team owners and drivers regularly arrive at tracks around the country in performance-oriented luxury vehicles.  Like their race car brethren, these vehicles are often customized to wring every last ounce of performance from their OEM roots. They sport modifications to the exterior, interior, wheels, tires, brakes, suspension, and engine—all in the name of more power and improved driving dynamics.  Kia Racing drivers, Mark Wilkins and Nic Jönsson, consulted with LUX Motorwerks, providing input into the kind of vehicle they would like to drive to and from the track, and the result is the High-Performance K900 debuting at today’s SEMA Show.

Starting with a custom, one-off body kit with carbon fiber inserts, custom-blended gray paint, blacked-out chrome trim and massive 21-inch gloss-black HRE RS100 wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires, the High-Performance K900 is offers a subtly menacing appearance, which hints at the power underneath.

The interior features luxurious tan leather seats with black suede accents and bespoke touches such as 11-inch seatback monitors showing in-car footage from iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations to allow rear-seat passengers to learn or refresh their knowledge of each track’s all-important racing line while en route to the circuit.  In the trunk are custom compartments for a driving suit and helmet, complete with a ProDryer to remove perspiration following a long day of hard work behind the wheel.

The High-Performance K900 adds a professional-grade boost to the stock vehicle’s 420-horsepower, five-liter V8, thanks to a unique Garrett 2871R twin-turbo application visible through a viewing port in the trunk.  With an estimated output hovering near 650 horsepower, the turbo units’ unconventional placement helps reduce engine compartment heat build-up under full throttle and doesn’t require the removal of any sheet metal beneath the sculpted lines of the hood.  A lowered Eibach suspension keeps this special version of Kia’s flagship sedan planted and level, and Ksport 8-piston brakes paired with 15-inch cross-drilled rotors offer the confidence of control.

The High-Performance K900 ensures the drive to and from the track is as exciting as the drive around it.

Ultimate Karting Sedona

Karting is how many of today’s top professional race drivers got their start and this all-new 2015 Kia Sedona has been transformed into the ultimate kart hauler.  Painted Kinetic Motorsports Red overlaid with vinyl graphics that pay tribute to the championship-winning Kia Racing Optimas, the Sedona sports matching 20-inch BBS CH-R white powder-coated wheels mounted with Pirelli P Zero rubber.  Atop the vehicle is a custom-built kart rack with space for a CRG Bambino kart and a Fiamma F35 Pro Awning, providing much-needed shade while racers turn wrenches or wait for the next round of open-wheel action on the track.  A second kart, a CRG Road Rebel shifter, is carried by a custom-built aluminum and diamond-plate trailer on matching 18-inch BBS CH-R wheels.

Repairs and off-track tuning are all part of the fun of a day at the races, and the Sedona’s interior has been transformed into a mobile garage to carry the necessary tools, spares and supplies.  The floor has been leveled and covered in black-and-white RaceDeck rubber flooring, and the vehicle has been kitted out with a toolbox, featuring a built-in Infinity subwoofer and amp, and a tire bead breaker.  Hand-built, diamond-plate shelves fill the cargo area of the Sedona and provide storage for spare tires, a five-gallon gas tank and Sparco karting gear.  Sparco also supplied Chrono Road seats to finish off the racy look of the interior.

Pirelli World Challenge GTS Optima

First shown at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, when Kia Motors America announced that it would augment its championship-winning Forte Koup racing program with an entry into the Pirelli World Challenge, this championship winning Kia Racing Optima features an exciting new livery for the 2015 racing season.

Kia Racing clinched the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge Grand Touring Sport (GTS) Class Manufacturer Championship in only its third season of competition.  Kia defeated rivals Ford, Chevrolet, Porsche, Aston Martin and Nissan to become the first Korean auto manufacturer to win the coveted championship.  Kia Racing finished the stellar season with 13 podium finishes, including 5 race wins. Meanwhile, the turbocharged Optima race cars led more on-track miles than any other manufacturer in the class this season, a testimony to the speed and reliability of the Kia Optima.

The No. 38 B.R.A.K.E.S. Optima turbo on display at SEMA was driven by Mark Wilkins throughout the 2014 season and utilizes the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder GDI engine found in the Kia Optima SX and SXL.  The engine block, head and crank shaft are stock Kia parts.  Power output has been increased from the stock 274 HP to about 368 HP and is routed to the front wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission.  The Kia Racing Optima weighs 2,950 pounds and has a top speed of 160 mph.

Wilkins finished the season third in the Driver Championship, scoring two wins and six podiums.  Teammate Nic Jönsson, in the No. 36 DonorsChoose.org Optima turbo (not shown at the SEMA Show), finished the season seventh in the Driver Championship with three wins and seven podiums.

Not only do Kia Racing’s performances reinforce the quality and dependability of Kia’s vehicles against the very best under the most extreme conditions, they support and increase awareness for two important charitable organizations.  B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) provides free advanced driver’s education to teenage drivers with the goal of preventing injuries and saving lives. DonorsChoose.org is an online charity devoted to helping public school students in need of learning materials.  Teachers post classroom project requests, and donors give to the projects that most inspire them.

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2015 Kia Rio | New Car Review

Pros

·         Exterior styling is heaps better than its competitors.

·         Innovative dashboard design is a neat touch of creativity to the cabin.

Cons

·         Boot space slightly smaller than the competition.

Looks

Gone are the days when Rio was only the name of a large city in Brazil. Today, amongst many other things, it is also the name of an animated film and a line of B-segment cars produced by the Korean manufacturer, Kia. Available as a 5 door hatchback or a 4 door sedan, the 2015 Kia Rio is a striking little offering by the Koreans. Apart from the obvious body structure distinction, subtle cosmetic differences in the styling of the headlamp cluster, fog lamp housing, upper and lower grille and placement of the LED’s, differentiate the hatchback from the sedan.

Feels

The 2015 Kia Rio houses a neat and uncluttered dashboard that features GTR-esque A/C control switches and isn’t overwhelmed with more buttons than horsepower. A unique feature found in the Rio is the Crash Pad Album that allows the driver to personalize their Rio with their favourite snapshot located below the A/C vent. As far as practicality is concerned, both the sedan and hatchback do a fine job of transporting 4 people in comfort and also pack in 388 and 288 litres of bootspace respectively.

Engineering

The Arkamys Virtual Sound System that offers a rich listening experience with improved clarity of instruments and voices is likely to loved by audio junkies as it can play their fave tunes through  an AUX, USB and iPod port. The trip computer located in the centre of the supervision cluster provides essential journey information such as distance to empty, optimum fuel consumption, outside temperature and a range of other information.

What’s on offer?

The 2015 Kia Rio is available with just one engine under the hood – a 1.4 litre 4-cylinder engine which pumps out 107 horsepower at 6,300 RPM and 135 Nm of torque at 4,200 RPM, through a 4 speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. It may not sound all that powerful, but it sure is enough to tug the Rio around.

Summing it…

When put beside competitors such as the Chevrolet Aveo, Ford Fiesta and Honda Jazz, the Kia Rio shines brighter than ever with an edge in terms of exterior design, features and pricing. Are we satisfied with its offering of just one airbag in the basic and mid-spec variant though? Certainly not.

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