Kia Teases e-AWD Soul Concept for Chicago

9 years, 9 months ago - 31 January 2015, Autoblog
Kia Teases e-AWD Soul Concept for Chicago
Kia let slip just a few days ago that it is preparing an outdoorsy concept based on one of its most popular models for the 2015 Chicago Auto Show.

After a brief wait, we are getting our first look at an unnamed e-AWD concept – or at least the front third of it. By all accounts, it looks to be rough and tumble version of its popular Soul compact.

Beyond some tougher looks, the concept will get some extra oomph from an electric all-wheel drive system. Plus, to fit its inspiration of letting city dwellers go on off-road adventures, the styling wears a few tweaks from Kia's California design studio. The teaser shows off black body cladding around the lower air dam and wheel wells. The headlights also appear blacked-out with white trim around them for contrast, and the orange highlights in the wheels provide some visual pop.

We're curious to see if Kia will do anything else for this Soul concept's design and how much power the electric all-wheel drive system adds. With the way the teaser image is tightly cropped, it could be a different bodystyle altogether, from a convertible to a pickup.