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2020 Kia Soul EV earns 243-mile EPA range rating

Kia is diving head first into the world of electric cars, and now we know how far its new Soul EV can go on a full charge: 243 miles, according to its EPA rating. This officially makes it the longest-range EV in Kia's lineup, because the Niro EV is rated for 239 miles. The Hyundai Kona bests them all with a 258-mile range, though. We got to see the Soul EV at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year for the first time, but could only guess at the range then. It was expected to see huge gains compared to the first electric Soul, which is rated at 111 miles in its last year of duty here in 2019. Range similar to the Niro and Kona is no surprise, as it borrows the powertrain out of those cars. A 64 kWh battery pack provides juice for an electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque. DC fast charging is standard and you can adjust the brake regeneration power via paddles behind the steering wheel. Anyone looking at an EV from Kia or Hyundai is going to have to make a choice when it comes to bodystyle, because they won't lose or gain much on the powertrain and efficiency side of things. A 243-mile range is more than sufficient to compete in the electric vehicle world right now, especially if you can get that range on the quirky but lovable Soul. The Bolt EV is sitting at 238 miles of range, and the new Nissan Leaf E+ can go 226 miles before fully depleting its battery. You'll be able to choose between the normal Soul EV or the Soul EV Designer Collection at launch. The Designer trim gets a two-tone paint scheme along with other additions like a leatherette interior, 10-speaker audio system and wireless charging. Pricing isn't available yet, but will be announced closer to the on-sale date. Kia says to expect it in the first half of this year. Related Video:

Weekly Recap: Mazda's rotary revival ignites Tokyo Motor Show

Forty-eight years ago Mazda pioneered rotary engines in the Cosmo Sport. Mazda then honed the technology, won with it on the racetrack, and made it one of its signature features. If you're an enthusiast, rotary was a reason you like Mazda. It's a great part of the company's past. But until this week, that's exactly what we thought it was. History. That all changed with the reveal of the RX-Vision concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, which reignited the passions of the Mazda faithful. Suddenly, rotary was no longer a relic. The rotary concept shown in Japan was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car wrapped in the company's latest Kodo design language. It's powered by a Skyactiv-R unit (R for rotary), though specs were not disclosed. Mass production is "currently on hold," Mazda said, maintaining it never stopped development of rotary technology, even after the demise of the RX-8. Beyond that, we know nothing, other than the optimistic statement Mazda offered that: the "RX-Vision represents a vision of the future that Mazda hopes to one day make into reality." Put simply: we agree. OTHER NEWS & NOTES: Subaru previews next-gen Impreza While the Mazda concept was the headliner from Tokyo, Subaru's Impreza design study also stood out. The five-door concept is a signpost for the look of next-generation Impreza. It blends sportiness with functionality, and it's wrapped in a striking shade of 'high-luminance silver.' The fenders are flared to signal Subaru's all-wheel-drive capability, and the front has futuristic headlights that look like something from an Audi E-Tron concept. While most of this will be toned down in production, the concept suggests an elevated style for the Impreza, which is due as a 2017 model. Porsche adds potent GTS model to 2017 Macan line Porsche is giving the Macan crossover the GTS treatment, which will start at $68,195 when it goes on sale in March. GTS translates to more power, a sportier suspension, and interior and exterior design cues that sharpen the looks and reflexes of one of the most athletic SUVs on the market. Porsche recalibrated the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 from the Macan S to make 360 hp and 369 lb-ft, (up from 340 hp and 339 lb-ft in the S). It teams with a seven-speed PDK gearbox and all-wheel drive. An air suspension is standard. The body features a slew of black accents, and the standard 20-inch RS Spyder wheels are done up in a shade of satin black. The cabin gets leather, Alcantara, and GTS logos.

2020 Kia Soul earns highest Top Safety Pick + rating from IIHS

The completely redesigned 2020 Kia Soul has finally been crash tested by IIHS, and the results are quite good. The subcompact crossover earned the organization's highest rating of Top Safety Pick +, which topped the previous generation's plain Top Safety Pick rating. The main reason for the higher overall rating is because of an improved passenger-side small overlap crash test result. The new model is now rated "Good" rather than "Acceptable" for the previous model. The rest of the new Soul's crash test results also got the top "Good" rating. Performance in other IIHS test categories are about the same as they had been. The Soul gets the top "Superior" rating for forward collision prevention. The system could stop the car completely before a collision at speeds up to 25 mph. It should be noted that automatic emergency braking is only available as a standard feature on S, EX and GT-Line models. The system with pedestrian detection is only available as a standard feature on the turbocharged GT-Line. Headlight performance was rated "Good" for models with LED headlights, also helping give the Soul the Top Safety Pick + rating, but the halogen headlights that come with lower trim levels were rated as "Poor." The LATCH anchor points for child seats are continued to be rated "Acceptable" for ease of use and access.