Kia e-Soul: the details of the electric crossover | Geneva Motor Show 2019

KIA e-Soul

Previewed at the Geneva Motor Show in conjunction with the mysterious Kia electric concept , the third generation of the Kia Soul compact crossover will be marketed in the old one only in the electric version e-Soul .

Buyers will be able to choose between two different battery pack cuts (39 kWh and 64 kWh) with a powertrain that therefore derives from the one already used on Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro ( HERE our video preview of Kia e-Niro ). Compared to the previous Soul EV, performance (395 Nm of torque) improved by 39%, but also increased autonomy, thanks to the new generation lithium polymer batteries, optimized in energy density (250 Wh / kg, or 25 % more than the current).

On the 64 kWh version the engine develops 150 kW of power (204 hp), while the declared autonomy is 452 km (combined cycle WLTP). All with an acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 7.6 seconds. On the other side, on the 39 kWh variant, the engine delivers 100 kW (136 hp) and the range drops to 277 km . The torque value of 395 Nm is unchanged. Charging takes place at 80% in 42 minutes , thanks to the quick charger with CCS Combo standard that can support powers up to 100 kW .

e-Soul is proposing an advanced energy recovery system for energy coming from cooling systems (energy to be reused, for example for the heat pump). An "intelligent" heat pump that can choose to send air flows only to the driver when only his presence in the car is detected.

e-Soul is also equipped as standard with the regenerative braking system of Kia , driven by steering-wheel levers, the same principle that we also find on Hyundai Kona Electric, further developed. The driver can in fact choose between five levels of regenerative braking (none, from 1 to 3, or 'single pedal' mode). In single-pedal mode, the driver can completely stop the car by simply releasing the accelerator pedal.