Kia E-Soul 2019: First images, performance, battery capacity

Los Angeles – It was already known: Kia bade farewell to the combustion engines of the soul. To change the model, the compact, sharp and off-center model, only rolls in Europe as an electric car. And soon: the launch of the new Kia Soul announced the manufacturer of the first half of 2019 sure.

Kia essentially takes over the powertrain of the group's twin model, Hyundai Kona Elektro. The electric motor produces 150 kW (204 hp) and derives its energy from a Lithium-ion polymer battery of 64 kWh. The capacity of the new battery is more than twice the capacity of its predecessor (30 kWh). The maximum torque of the engine is 395 Newton meters. Standard equipment includes a CCS plug and a fast charge function.

The consumption of e-Soul Kia gives 14.9 kWh per 100 kilometers. Therefore, a battery charge over a distance of more than 400 km is sufficient. Official values ​​for performance and reach that Kia will only call in early 2019.

The electric soul is probably more expensive

Kia E-Soul: Cockpit source: Kia The typical equipment of the electric car includes a four-level recovery braking system. It stores brake energy in the battery and allows the vehicle in the highest setting slow down to a stop. This is how you can control the Kia E-Soul with a single pedal. The system is switched by means of flip flops on the steering wheel.

The parking brake or transmission lever does not exist in the badpit. The choice of gearing is via a "wire" rotary switch, that is to say without mechanical coupling to the single-stage gearbox. In the center console is a 10.25 inch touch screen for infotainment.

The driver can choose between Comfort, Sport, Eco and Eco + driving modes. In addition, the Kia E-Soul has more than support systems such as front-end collision warning, emergency brake badist, lane change badistant, cross-traffic alarm, fatigue alert and semi-autonomous traffic jams.

For the price of the Kia E-Soul, the manufacturer makes no statement. The predecessor starts at just under 30,000 euros. This price will not be sustainable with the new model with its much larger battery. Tip: The Hyundai Kona electric costs just under 40,000 euros with identical training.