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With more power and better mpg, the 2017 Kia Soul Exclaim is one to get.

We got our first look of the turbocharged Kia Soul just over a month ago at the Paris Motor Show in the form of the Soul SX. Because it was the Euro-spec model, we couldn't be sure just how much of it would change for the American market. But now it's abundantly clear that the US-spec Soul Exclaim is the very same car. The understated body modifications, the 201-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, and the upgraded interior all make the trip to the States. We do learn a few more details now that the American model has been unveiled. One of the most surprising ones is the gas mileage. Although the Soul Exclaim is by far the most powerful trim in the range, it also yields the best fuel economy. The combined city and highway rating is 28 mpg, which tops the second-highest rated Soul Plus by 1 mpg overall. For reference, the Soul Plus is only offered with a 2.0-liter, 161-horsepower, naturally aspirated four-cylinder and a 6-speed automatic. The 130-horsepower naturally aspirated entry-level Soul only gets 26 mpg, regardless of whether it's equipped with a manual or automatic. This does bring us to a disappointing tidbit about the Kia Soul Exclaim. It's only available with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. A spokesperson from Kia told us that the reason for this was to improve fuel economy and get the most performance out of the car. He also mentioned that the take rate for manual transmissions is very low. While we understand the reasoning, we still hoped it would be offered with a clutch pedal, especially since the engine is shared with the Hyundai Veloster Turbo and the Elantra Sport, both of which are available with 6-speed manuals. However, if you don't have to row your own gears, the Soul Exclaim is by far the model to get. It goes the fastest, is the most efficient, looks the best, and has the nicest interior, complete with a 315-watt stereo with subwoofer. Kia hasn't revealed pricing yet, but it's safe to say it will be the most expensive Soul, too. But if you want a Soul and have the means, this is the obvious choice. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Here’s how 20 popular EVs fared in cold-weather testing in Norway

Electric vehicles are known to suffer diminished performance in cold weather, but some do a better job than others hanging onto their range capacity while cabin heaters and frigid outdoor temperatures sap power from their batteries. Recently, the Norwegian Automobile Federation put the 20 of the best-selling battery-electric vehicles in the country to the test, to see not only how winter weather affected their range but also their charging times. The major findings: On average, electric vehicles lost 18.5% of their official driving range as determined by the European WLTP cycle. Electric vehicles also charge more slowly in cold temperatures. And interestingly, the researchers learned that EVs don’t simply shut down when they lose power but instead deliver a series of warnings to the driver, with driving comfort and speed levels maintained until the very last few miles. Because itÂ’s Norway, the worldÂ’s top market for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles by market share, the test included many EVs that arenÂ’t available here in the U.S. But there are many familiar faces, among them the Nissan Leaf, Tesla Models S, 3 and X, Hyundai Kona (known here as the Kona Electric) and Ioniq, and Audi E-Tron. In terms of range, the top-performing EV was the Hyundai Kona, which lost only 9% of its official range, which the WTLP rated at 449 kilometers, or 279 miles, compared to its EPA-rated range of 258 miles on a full charge. It delivered 405 km, just enough to nudge it ahead of the Tesla Model 3, which returned 404 km. Other top performers included the Audi E-Tron, in both its 50 Quattro (13% lower range) and higher-powered 55 Quattro (14% lower) guises; the Hyundai Ioniq (10% lower); and Volkswagen e-Golf (11% lower). At 610 km (379 miles) the Tesla Model S has the longest WLTP range of all models tested and went the furthest, but still lost 23% of its range, though it also encountered energy-sapping heavy snow at the end of its test, when many cars had dropped out. The Model 3 lost 28% of its range. The worst performer? That goes to the Opel Ampera-e, better known stateside as the Chevrolet Bolt. It traveled 297 km (about 184 miles) in the test, which was nearly 30% lower than its stated WLTP range. We should also note that Opel, now owned by Groupe PSA, is phasing the car out in Europe and that Chevy recently upgraded the Bolt here in the U.S.

Porsche tops J.D. Power quality index as Korean brands soar

While complaints about infotainment systems remain a thorn in the side of automakers for J.D. Power's annual Initial Quality Study, there's a lot to celebrate this year. The average number of problems reported per 100 vehicles fell to 112 in 2015 – a three-percent improvement compared to 116 in 2014. The results of this year's survey are based on the responses of over 84,000 people about problems within the first 90 days of buying or leasing a 2015 model-year vehicle. For the third consecutive year, Porsche tops the rankings with an average of 80 problems per 100 vehicles. Although, that's slightly more than the 74 the German sportscar maker scored in 2014. "While the Japanese automakers continue to make improvements, we're seeing other brands, most notably Korean makes, really accelerating the rate of improvement," Renee Stephens, vice president of US automotive quality at J.D. Power, said in the study's release. In fact, Kia ranks as one of the biggest movers in this year's list. The Korean brand jumped to second place from seventh last year. The company had an average of 86 problems per 100 vehicles, a 20-point improvement. Third place went to Jaguar with an average of 93 problems reported, versus last year's second-place finish with 87 of them. Fourth place was Hyundai, and fifth-place Infiniti also earned a gold star for improvement with 97 issues per 100 vehicles – 31-points better than last year. Fiat still anchored the bottom of the list. However, its 161 problems this year is a lot better than the 206 in 2014. Ranked by nationality, Korean brands (Hyundai and Kia) are now leading the industry in initial quality with an average of 90 problems reported per 100 vehicles. According to J.D. Power, this is the first time Europe's figure beat Japan with 113 and 114 issues, respectively. The American brands also averaged 114. Whereas General Motors dominated last year, the segment awards are spread out in 2015. GM, Hyundai, Nissan, and Volkswagen Group are all tied with four models each earning prizes. For more information, you can also see all of the graphs, here. J.D.