Kia Soul Turbo Makes its World Debut in Europe

Kia Soul Turbo (Credit: © Kia)

We already knew it was coming, thanks to a slip up in an advertisement, but now it is official: The Kia Soul is finally getting an engine that has the power to match its funky looks. I am, of course, talking about the Kia Soul Turbo.

Now for the sad part… For now, it appears as if this boosted Soul will only be available in Europe. So, we will likely have a short wait before we can enjoy its 1.6-liter turbo engine that lays down 201 horsepower. Luckily, it looks like the wait will be over before the end of the year.

Power will route through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission that delivers it to the front wheels – sorry, no all-wheel drive, yet. This is enough to get the compact box to 62 mph in just 7.5 seconds, which would translate to about 7.3 seconds to 60 mph – roughly 1.5 seconds quicker than the base 2016 model. Top speed will ring in at just 122 mph, which is likely due to the not-so-hot aerodynamics of the rolling box that is the Kia Soul.

This model also gets a handful of visual updates to set it apart from the base Soul. These include new-look bumpers with faux skid plates. There were a few changes inside the cabin, but they all appear to be Europe-only changes These include the addition of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a rearview camera, a USB port in the rear, and eight-way power seats.

The Soul Turbo will make its official debut at the Paris Auto Show, which kicks off Oct. 1, 2016. Its U.S. debut is not clear just yet, but we’ll keep an eye out for an announcement.

Stay tuned for updates.