HOT OFF THE KIA UK PRESS
Following its unveiling earlier this year at the New York Motor show in April 2011 the Soul has been modified and re-designed to enhance its looks, interior quality and engine performance. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />
Exterior Features
The Soul exterior has been subtly but extensively updated and maintains its distinctive, unique character.
The front radiator grille is updated to a ""˜cubic' effect grille which gives a smart, sportier look.
As standard, all ""˜1' and ""˜2' grade models feature new stylish bulb-type, daytime running headlights which significantly improve visibility to oncoming traffic.
Standard features which have been added to the ""˜1' also include body coloured door handles and mirrors, and tinted glass which give a refined, exterior style.
The front fog lights, which come as standard on the ""˜2' grade, have been given a muscular, distinctive surround emphasising the volume around the fog light surface.
Other key new exterior features which add differentiation to the mid-grade ""˜2' models include a new design of 16""� alloy wheels, and electric folding door mirrors with integrated indicator lights, which are also new to the Soul range.
From the rear, the addition of a rear, ""˜tusk' shaped bumper portrays a wider and more stabilised stance on the road whilst the rear brake lights change to vertical wrap-around lights which are consistent with the KIA family range.
The length of the new Facelift Soul has increased by 15mm due to a longer, front bumper overhang.
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MY11 Soul
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<DIV style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4.35pt; PADDING-LEFT: 7.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 7.95pt; PADDING-TOP: 4.35pt" =shape v:shape="_x0000_s1026">
MY11 Soul
</TD></TR></T></TABLE>Wheel Designs
The new Soul ""˜1' grade keeps the current 15""� steel wheel design with full covers. The new Soul ""˜2' grade gains a new stylish 16""� alloy wheel design.
NB: All Facelift Soul models come with a temporary spare wheel.
Interior Changes
Inside the Facelift Soul, an increase in interior quality and specifications gives a more premium look and feel. The Soul interior has been upgraded including a re-designed centre fascia, centre console and gear shift.
Interior Trims
The Facelift Soul ""˜1' and ""˜2' grades have their own unique, interior trims. The entry grade Soul ""˜1' retains its current full black, cloth upholstery. The ""˜2""˜ grade features a new, modern luminous Soul Shine Cloth, featuring larger ""˜Soul' writing than the current Soul Shine Cloth.
Engines & Transmissions
The launch of the Facelift Soul models will feature improvements in the 1.6 diesel and petrol engines currently offered.
Existing manual 5-speed transmission is revised and will now feature a 6-speed transmission, which enables significant improvements in CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions and fuel efficiency as well as a smoother ride.
The existing 4-speed automatic transmission is upgraded to a 6-speed transmission for added refinement and comfort.
The 124bhp MPI Petrol engine has been replaced with a 138bhp GDi (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine featuring a 14bhp increase in power. Despite the improvement in power, CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions have been significantly cut down to 149g/km.
CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions on the diesel manual model have been cut by 8g/km to 129g.
The improvement in CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions on both the petrol and diesel engines has enabled a decrease in VED bands across the Soul range. For the first time on a Soul model, the diesel manual model will now be within the D VED band, which translates into £0 VED for the first year. The table below shows clearly the improvements in CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions and VED tax bands from MY11 to Facelift Soul.
Safety
The Facelift Soul benefits from a full range of electronic safety measures. It comes as standard with the potentially life-saving feature of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to keep the car on course in slippery conditions or when cornering sharply.
New to Facelift Soul as standard is the addition of Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM). HAC holds the car briefly when the driver releases the brake pedal while moving away on slopes to ensure the car does not roll back. VSM helps to reduce the risk of accidents by connecting the ESC and steering system, which improves the safety of the vehicle by detecting and minimising skidding by controlling over-steer in adverse conditions.
All versions have Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist System (BAS), ensuring maximum stopping power in emergency situations.
Exterior Colours
The Facelift Soul retains most of its current exterior colours with the exception of one colour replacement on the grade ""˜2'. Moonlight Blue has been removed from the ""˜2' grade and replaced with the popular exterior colour; Titanium Silver, which is currently exclusively found on the ""˜Tempest'.
Following its unveiling earlier this year at the New York Motor show in April 2011 the Soul has been modified and re-designed to enhance its looks, interior quality and engine performance. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" />
Exterior Features
The Soul exterior has been subtly but extensively updated and maintains its distinctive, unique character.
The front radiator grille is updated to a ""˜cubic' effect grille which gives a smart, sportier look.
As standard, all ""˜1' and ""˜2' grade models feature new stylish bulb-type, daytime running headlights which significantly improve visibility to oncoming traffic.
Standard features which have been added to the ""˜1' also include body coloured door handles and mirrors, and tinted glass which give a refined, exterior style.
The front fog lights, which come as standard on the ""˜2' grade, have been given a muscular, distinctive surround emphasising the volume around the fog light surface.
Other key new exterior features which add differentiation to the mid-grade ""˜2' models include a new design of 16""� alloy wheels, and electric folding door mirrors with integrated indicator lights, which are also new to the Soul range.
From the rear, the addition of a rear, ""˜tusk' shaped bumper portrays a wider and more stabilised stance on the road whilst the rear brake lights change to vertical wrap-around lights which are consistent with the KIA family range.
The length of the new Facelift Soul has increased by 15mm due to a longer, front bumper overhang.
<?: prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /></v:stroke></vath></v:shape></v:text></v:shape>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
<T>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; : transparent; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8">
<DIV style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4.35pt; PADDING-LEFT: 7.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 7.95pt; PADDING-TOP: 4.35pt" =shape v:shape="_x0000_s1027">
MY11 Soul
</TD></TR></T></TABLE></v:text></v:shape>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
<T>
<TR>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ece9d8; BORDER-LEFT: #ece9d8; : transparent; BORDER-TOP: #ece9d8; BORDER-RIGHT: #ece9d8">
<DIV style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4.35pt; PADDING-LEFT: 7.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 7.95pt; PADDING-TOP: 4.35pt" =shape v:shape="_x0000_s1026">
MY11 Soul
</TD></TR></T></TABLE>Wheel Designs
The new Soul ""˜1' grade keeps the current 15""� steel wheel design with full covers. The new Soul ""˜2' grade gains a new stylish 16""� alloy wheel design.
NB: All Facelift Soul models come with a temporary spare wheel.
Interior Changes
Inside the Facelift Soul, an increase in interior quality and specifications gives a more premium look and feel. The Soul interior has been upgraded including a re-designed centre fascia, centre console and gear shift.
Interior Trims
The Facelift Soul ""˜1' and ""˜2' grades have their own unique, interior trims. The entry grade Soul ""˜1' retains its current full black, cloth upholstery. The ""˜2""˜ grade features a new, modern luminous Soul Shine Cloth, featuring larger ""˜Soul' writing than the current Soul Shine Cloth.
Engines & Transmissions
The launch of the Facelift Soul models will feature improvements in the 1.6 diesel and petrol engines currently offered.
Existing manual 5-speed transmission is revised and will now feature a 6-speed transmission, which enables significant improvements in CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions and fuel efficiency as well as a smoother ride.
The existing 4-speed automatic transmission is upgraded to a 6-speed transmission for added refinement and comfort.
The 124bhp MPI Petrol engine has been replaced with a 138bhp GDi (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine featuring a 14bhp increase in power. Despite the improvement in power, CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions have been significantly cut down to 149g/km.
CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions on the diesel manual model have been cut by 8g/km to 129g.
The improvement in CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions on both the petrol and diesel engines has enabled a decrease in VED bands across the Soul range. For the first time on a Soul model, the diesel manual model will now be within the D VED band, which translates into £0 VED for the first year. The table below shows clearly the improvements in CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions and VED tax bands from MY11 to Facelift Soul.
Safety
The Facelift Soul benefits from a full range of electronic safety measures. It comes as standard with the potentially life-saving feature of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to keep the car on course in slippery conditions or when cornering sharply.
New to Facelift Soul as standard is the addition of Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM). HAC holds the car briefly when the driver releases the brake pedal while moving away on slopes to ensure the car does not roll back. VSM helps to reduce the risk of accidents by connecting the ESC and steering system, which improves the safety of the vehicle by detecting and minimising skidding by controlling over-steer in adverse conditions.
All versions have Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist System (BAS), ensuring maximum stopping power in emergency situations.
Exterior Colours
The Facelift Soul retains most of its current exterior colours with the exception of one colour replacement on the grade ""˜2'. Moonlight Blue has been removed from the ""˜2' grade and replaced with the popular exterior colour; Titanium Silver, which is currently exclusively found on the ""˜Tempest'.