Jan. 29--Kia has announced plans to unveil a plug-in capable all-wheel-drive concept car at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show.
"This bold off-roader was...built for city dwellers seeking the ultimate urban escape," Kia said in a statement. Sounds like the concept is aiming at the Subaru Outback but will likely appear more like a Kia Soul.
Kia launched the Kia Soul EV at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, and the pure electric Soul has a 93-mile range and retained 91 percent of the interior space of the gas variant. Both measures are exceptional for BEV counterparts.
The drawback to the Soul EV was the initial release was limited to California. During our week-long test drive at the onset of Chicago's winter, the Soul EV handled like a sled in the lightest layer of snow, thanks to super low resistance rolling tires that help extend range and braking distance in any kind of weather. An all-wheel-drive Soul plug-in with climate-variable tires would erase our criticisms of the Soul EV.
The press conference kicks off media day at 9 a.m. on February 12. The show opens to the public on Saturday, February 14 and runs through Sunday, February 22.
