Funky Kia Soul completely redesigned
LOS ANGELES - Kia showed off the all-new 2020 Soul hatchback Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show, giving the world a car that retains its iconic shape while still being thoroughly revised.
The boxy little car, which was made famous by its hipster hamster commercials, now rides on an all-new platform with lots of new features.
Outside, the shape of the two previous generations of Soul is still there, though the headlights are now much slimmer and the rear features a taillight that wraps around the back hatch. That hatch is both wider and lower than previous generations, making it easier to load and unload.
Overall, the new car is 2.2 inches longer than the previous generation, though the width and height remain the same. That slightly longer body allows for a wheelbase that's 1.2 inches longer than before.
The longer distance between wheels should give the car a smoother ride, while the extra length helps to increase the interior cargo room by 5 cubic feet.
Also inside, buyers will find an available 10.25-inch color touchscreen, an available 8-inch head-up display and an optional 640-watt 10-speaker audio system.
Powering the little car is a new 2-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 147 horsepower. A turbocharged 1.6-liter engine will also be available, good for 201 horsepower.
Pricing will be announced closer to when the car goes on sale in the first half of 2019.
