2014 Kia Soul ! on 2040-cars

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2014 Kia Soul to get quasi-SUV look for Europe [w/poll]

The 2014 Soul is bigger and more refined, and Kia says its look has been inspired in part by the Track'ster concept. Interestingly, European buyers will get the option of a different look than what we'll see in our showrooms. They'll be able to specify the SUV Styling Pack seen here, which includes matte-black cladding on the front and rear fascias, along with what Kia refers to as piano-black trim on the wheel wells and side skirts. The roof is available painted black, white or red. With all of that black trim and slightly tougher look, the styling reminds us of the Fiat 500L Trekking, a model the Soul will compete directly against.
European markets also have the ability to spec their Souls like our North American version, which substitutes body-color trim for most of the black pieces. Currently, there are no plans to bring the SUV Styling Pack to the US. But that doesn't mean we'll never be able to buy this butch-look Soul on our side of the Atlantic. Company spokesperson James Hope confirms to Autoblog, "[Kia] has no plans to offer something similar to the EU-spec Soul at this time. However, we are always monitoring the market and if we saw an opportunity we would certainly look into it."
Feel free to peruse the press release below for more details on the Euro-spec Soul - which is slated to debut at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show - and then let Kia know if they should bring the SUV Styling Pack here by participating in our poll below.

2017 Kia Model Year Preview and Updates

Kia continues its growing market momentum on the strength of three all-new intros and/or updates, along with its selection as a top pick by Consumer Reports. Kia's Niro - pictured above - is an all-new hybrid, combining a fairly conventional crossover profile with front-wheel drive and up to 50 miles-per-gallon. Also of note: Later in the '17 calendar year most dealers will receive the all-new STINGER GT, first introduced at the '17 Detroit Auto Show. KIA CADENZA: Kia's upsized, upscale Cadenza presents a near-luxury ownership experience without the penalty of a near-luxury price point. Its new platform is stronger, lighter and more rigid, while the interior is dramatically upscale. Finally, the Cadenza boasts Kia's first application of an eight-speed automatic in a front-wheel drive powertrain. FORTE: Kia's sedan and hatchback enjoy freshened styling and a new, 2.0-liter base powertrain. There is also the optional availability of a whole suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including autonomous emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning and Dynamic Bending Light, which allows your lights to follow the direction of your steering wheel. K900: Kia's large, rear-wheel-drive sedan is unchanged for 2017. NIRO: Kia's all-new hybrid crossover is an outlier in the hybrid segment, with the high hip point and generous greenhouse of a crossover and a projected EPA estimate of 50 miles per gallon (combined) efficiency. It is powered by a normally-aspirated 1.6-liter four and electric motor, delivering a total system horsepower of 139, and 195 pound-feet of torque. OPTIMA: Following a redesign in 2016, Kia's midsize entry enjoys package refinements, standard 18-inch wheels on SX trim, a new value package on the 1.6T and new colors. More significant is the addition of both an Optima Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid. The Hybrid promises to be 10-percent more efficient, while the plug-in will offer an estimated electric-only range of 27 miles. RIO: New colors and a discontinued four door SX highlight the changes. SOUL: Kia's two-box box adds new alloy wheel designs, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert on Plus and Excalibur trims. And news of two new colors pales when compared to the Soul Exclaim's new turbo powerplant, connected to a seven-speed DCT transmission. SOUL EV: UVO eco is now on EV and EV+, while all trims receive an upgraded fast charge and a second-generation Pedestrian Warning System.

Nissan GT-R, Armada and the new Kia Sorento | Autoblog Podcast #658

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder and Road Test Editor Zac Palmer for the final episode of 2020. They've been driving some interesting cars, including the Nissan GT-R, the new Nissan Armada, a Mercedes-Benz GLA and a pair of new-gen Kia Sorentos. They talk a bit about an interesting new EV called the Ace from Alpha Motor Corporation. Finally, the trio takes turns talking about their favorite cars they drove this year. Enjoy, and we'll be back with more episodes in 2021. Autoblog Podcast #658 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown What we're driving:2021 Nissan GT-R 2021 Nissan Armada 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 2021 Kia Sorento Alpha Motor Corporation unveils Ace electric coupe Our favorite cars of the year: Zac: Lotus Evora GT John: Polestar 2 Greg: McLaren GT Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: Green Podcasts Kia Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Nissan Coupe Crossover SUV Electric Luxury Performance Sedan Polestar