New 2020 Kia Soul debuts at the LA Auto Show with major cosmetic enhancements

MANILA: The all-new 2020 Kia Soul debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show with its iconic boxy-shape and quirky styling cues. The vehicle will be available in 6 variants with more aggressive engines and better styling.

The all-new Soul crossover will draw its power from either a base 2.0-litre naturally aspirated powertrain rated at 147 PS and 179 Nm of torque, or a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine generating 201 PS and 264 Nm torque. The base model powertrain might come coupled with a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT, while the turbocharged mill can be paired with a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission. A pure electric version, known as the Soul EV, is likely to be offered along.

The front fascia flaunts a huge grill accompanied by a two-tier headlight. The new sculpted and sharp-looking headlights are complemented by an LED daytime running lights. The bulky set of lights below apparently feature the fog lights and turn signals. At the side, the upper portion of the rear pillar has been blackened to impart a sweeping roof design. The fenders and doors have been toned-down.

At the rear end, the brand’s iconic boomerang-shaped LED tail lights are spotted wrapping around the auto body at the top of the tailgate. The car rides on 18-inch alloy wheels. The width and height of the vehicle measure the same, but the length has been re-engineered. The restyling package also includes two centre-exit exhausts for completing the sportier appearance.

Inside the top-spec models, we have 10.25-inch HD color touchscreen infotainment featuring split-screen functionality along with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, etc. An 8-inch heads-up display and 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system are also on the offer list. A major highlight of the 2020 Kia Soul is the mood lighting system where the music that you will play inside influence the interior accent lighting. A broader spectrum of safety features is available, such as blind spot warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and more.