New-Gen Kia Soul Teased, Reveal On November 30

The new Soul retains a boxy exterior design like its predecessor

• Kia’s latest generation of the Soul will be revealed at the upcoming LA Auto Show which starts November 30.

• The new generation car is expected to get an electric powertrain.

• Previous-gen Soul electric was showcased at Auto Expo 2018.

• Kia might consider the electric Soul for India as it is expected to be based on the Kona EV, scheduled for 2019 launch in our country..

The new Kia Soul has been teased and is set for an unveil at the upcoming LA Auto Show which starts from November 30. This will be the third-generation iteration of the Soul, which has always been a boxy premium hatchback.

The two teaser images, one of the front and the other of the rear quarter panel, do not reveal much but make it certain that the boxiness of the original Soul will be retained. The front reveals that the headlamps will be sharp in design while the side image makes it clear that the Soul will get a floating roof design that is popular these days.

Kia has confirmed that the Soul will be available with a range of powertrain options that will include a turbocharged engine and an electric (dubbed the Soul EV) setup as well. The new car will go on sale in Europe in 2019. Reports suggest that the new Soul could also offered with a 4x4 setup. However, Kia has not yet confirmed this piece of information.

What piques our interest is the electric Soul, whose EV version is reportedly going to share parts and underpinnings with the upcoming Hyundai Kona Electric that is set for India debut in 2019. Since the Kona Electric will be assembled in India, getting the Soul here won’t be particularly tough for Kia.

At the same time, we don’t expect the Soul EV to come in 2019. Kia will launch the Soul globally in 2019 and 2020 could be when it might come to India -- if it is planned in the first case, that is. If it comes to India with the same powertrain as the Kona EV, expect prices of the electric version to hover around the Rs 25 lakh mark. Did you know that the second-gen Soul electric was showcased at the Auto Expo 2018 as well? Read about it here.