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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:

Hyundai Kona EV recalled in Korea after suspected battery flaw causes fires

SEOUL — Hyundai will voluntarily recall Kona full-electric vehicles because a possible short circuit due to faulty manufacturing of its high-voltage battery cells could pose a fire risk. The recall involves 25,564 Kona EVs built between September 2017 and March 2020, South Korea's transport ministry said on Thursday. It starts on Oct. 16 and  includes software updates and battery replacements after inspections. In total, 13 incidents of fire involving the Kona EV, including one each in Canada and Austria, were documented so far, according to a statement by ruling party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae's office on Thursday. The safety recall "is a proactive response to a suspected defective production of high-voltage batteries used in the vehicles, which may have contributed to the reported fires," Hyundai said. The automaker said it will deploy all necessary measures to identify the cause of the fires and address customers' needs. Kona EVs use batteries made by LG Chem. LG Chem said the exact cause of the fire had not been determined and a reenactment experiment conducted jointly with Hyundai had not led to a fire, so the fires could not be attributed to faulty battery cells. LG Chem added that it will participate in a future investigation with Hyundai to find the cause. In July, Hyundai Motor leader Euisun Chung said Hyundai and sister company Kia aim to sell 1 million full-electric vehicles in 2025, targeting more than 10 percent of the global market share for such vehicles. The Kona is Hyundai brand's best-selling model in Europe. Kona sales in the region rose 1.9 percent to 70,380 in the first eight months, including combustion engine versions, according to JATO Dynamics market researchers.  

Nuclear deal could make Iran next big car market

Iran is a huge and hugely appealing target for Western firms - it's population is nearly the size of Germany's, it is well educated and includes a substantial middle class, and there is a built-in industrial capability. Because of the sanctions that have been in place for nearly five years now over its nuclear program, however, its citizens and domestic industry haven't been able to purchase and expand, so investment opportunities are not only manifold, they are severely undervalued. Most of the auto industry has been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the Iranian game to start. A report in Automotive News says that Iran's two automakers, Iran Khodro and SAIPA - Societe Anonyme Iranienne de Production Automobile - produced one million light vehicles last year for 77.5 million people. According to Wikipedia there were 200 vehicles per 1,000 citizens in 2012, and that was before the industry took a nosedive. That number puts it between Uruguay and Jamaica. Chery, Kia, Peugeot, and Renault were the carmakers with major operations in-country before all but Chery pulled out. In the vacuum, Chery and other Chinese automakers have thrown lots of product at the market, getting 27 models in a range of segments built or supplied there, with results that are probably best described as ambivalent among observers but financially lucrative for the Chinese. Peugeot has re-established ties, and Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, and Volkswagen were attendees at the Iran Auto Show last November. The domestic companies say that this time they want local investment that includes technology transfer, so the Western carmakers that do decide to get in will find tougher negotiators than before. Peugeot, for instance, had a 51-49 partnership with Iran Khodro before pulling out; the new agreement is a 50-50 venture. As a 'gift' to the world for a final deal that encourages global investment, Bloomberg says that the price of crude would go down by $15 per barrel. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images Earnings/Financials Government/Legal Kia Peugeot Renault iran sanctions khodro