Kia News: Kia Adds A Bit of Spice for 2017 Soul

[William Maley]

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Ever since Kia unveiled a turbocharged version of the Soul in Paris back in September, we have been waiting for the South Korean to make the announcement for U.S.-spec Soul Turbo. Today, Kia has introduced the 2017 Soul! - we'll be referring to it as the Exclaim in this story - with turbo power.

As before, the Exclaim sits on top of the Soul's hierarchy and swaps the 2.0L four-cylinder for an all new 1.6L turbo-four with 201 horsepower and 196 pound-feet of torque. This comes paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Other changes the Exclaim gets for 2017 includes a chrome grille surround, body accents finished in red, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a dual chrome twin-tip exhaust. Standard equipment includes push-button start, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8.0-inch touchscreen with UVO3, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, and a couple of USB ports. Options include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 315-watt Harman/Kardon audio system.

“We wanted to provide loyal Soul lovers and new buyers a sportier option. The 2017 Soul Exclaim with its turbocharged engine gives the car’s fans another wonderful choice from an already wonderful line-up,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning KMA. 

No word on pricing or when the 2017 Soul Exclaim will go on sale.

Source: Kia
Press Release is on Page 2

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New Soul Exclaim Adds 1.6-liter Turbocharged GDI Engine with 40 More Horsepower, 45 More lb.-ft. of Torque and More to Love

• More power makes Kia’s funky urban runabout more fun than ever
• More power and improved fuel economy
• Other love-inducing additions include specialized trim and upscale, sportier features

SAN FRANCISCO, November 8, 2016—It’s hard to make something great even better, but Kia did when it added a 201-horsepower turbocharged engine to one of its best-selling, most-iconic and most beloved vehicles. Fans of the Soul had long lobbied for a little more zip in their favorite ride and the 2017 Soul Exclaim didn’t disappoint when it was revealed to media today.

“We wanted to provide loyal Soul lovers and new buyers a sportier option,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. “The 2017 Soul Exclaim with its turbocharged engine gives the car’s fans another wonderful choice from an already wonderful line-up.”

Though the 1.6-liter turbo engine adds 40 horsepower, fuel economy is 28 miles-per-gallon, city and highway combined1—slightly better than the combined mileage of the 2.0-liter normally-aspirated 161-hp engine in the Soul Plus and in the Soul Base 1.6-liter, which produces 130 horsepower.

Performance in the turbocharged Exclaim is further enhanced by the addition of a new 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which, via quicker and smoother shift points and no shift shock, makes for more dynamic acceleration and contributes to a more engaging driving experience.

In addition to the turbo engine, the Exclaim includes specialized trim and sportier features, including: exclusive 18-inch wheels; red-accented body trim; chrome grille surround, unique Soul tailgate badge; and, for the first time on Soul, dual chrome twin-tip exhaust.

The Exclaim also gets a standard leather-wrapped, D-shaped steering wheel, pushbutton start with smart key and UVO32 with e-Services with integrated Android Auto™3 and Apple CarPlay ™4 . A thumping 315-watt Harman Kardon® 5 premium audio system with eight speakers, including a center channel and subwoofer, navigation and 8-inch touchscreen display is also available. Other new options for the 2017 model year are convenience systems such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Detection are also available6.

The 2017 Soul is available in three trim levels: Base with manual or automatic 6-speed transmission; Soul Plus with the 6-speed automatic; and the Exclaim turbo with the new 7-speed DCT. There are also two new exterior colors. Redesigned headlights and fog lights, along with front and rear fascias lend a more aggressive appearance while two dedicated USB charge ports and an available 8-way power passenger seat add convenience and comfort.

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[G. David Felt]

Yawn, ok for some not impressed and still looks tiny and tight. Wonder how much the turbo will cost gas mileage.

[ocnblu]

Well the Soul has been a bright spot for Kia.  My mother loved hers, but it was a lease, and she could not strike a deal on a replacement at the Kia dealer, that is when she went with the Versa Note.  There is plenty of room in these, the back seat is big and the load area is high, making it nice for hauling.  The hip point is ideal for ingress/egress, which is one reason why older folks love them.  I would not own the Turbo because of the dual clutch transmission.

[A Horse With No Name]

21 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

Well the Soul has been a bright spot for Kia.  My mother loved hers, but it was a lease, and she could not strike a deal on a replacement at the Kia dealer, that is when she went with the Versa Note.  There is plenty of room in these, the back seat is big and the load area is high, making it nice for hauling.  The hip point is ideal for ingress/egress, which is one reason why older folks love them.  I would not own the Turbo because of the dual clutch transmission.

Actually a decent summary.  One would think you had actual experience with the vehicle with what you wrote.

[ocnblu]

8 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Actually a decent summary.  One would think you had actual experience with the vehicle with what you wrote.

Well I did have actual experience with my mother's, and I drove it plenty of times over the lease term.  It was actually during my visits to her that the car got any real miles racked up on the odo.

[daves87rs]

They are still nice cars....