Kia Aims Electric Soul at American Market

Kia Motors Corp. expects the U.S. will be the biggest market for the electric Soul MPV it introduced in South Korea a month ago, Automotive News reports.

Kia hopes to achieve worldwide sales of 5,000 Soul EVs per year. The company expects to debut the car later this year in five states: California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Oregon.

The front-drive Soul EV sells for 42.5 million yuan ($41,400) in Korea, where incentives reduce the retail cost by more than half. Kia hasn't announced a price for the American iteration.

The car is powered by an 81-kW motor and 27-kWh lithium ion polymer battery. Both were developed at the Korean tech center of Kia's controlling shareholder, Hyundai Motor Co., although Kia buys cells from outside vendors.

Outside, the EV sports a unique blue roof, revised front grille, LED tail lights and custom 16-inch wheels. Inside, the car debuts Kia's new organic LED instrument cluster, special trim and a heat pump-based heating and cooling system.

The Soul EV weighs 150 kg (330 lbs) more than the piston-powered model. Kia says the car can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 11.2 seconds and travel 92 miles on a charge.