ConceptsKIA

Kia reveals all-wheel drive Trail’ster concept at Chicago Auto Show

Kia has introduced the Trail’ster concept at the Chicago Auto Show this week. It’s based on the Soul but it adopts an all-wheel drive system by mixing up a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor. The former sends 188 HP and 185 lb-ft to the front axle while the latter generates 36 HP and 100 lb-ft transferred to the rear wheels. There’s also a lithium-ion polymer battery with a capacity of 1.2 kWh and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Trail’ster concept can actually run solely on electric power for 2-3 miles but it was basically added to improve traction during off-road driving.

Kia Trail'ster concept
Kia Trail’ster concept

The Trail’ster concept looks significantly different than the 2015MY Soul as it wears a beefier body painted in Polar Pearl Snowdrift and benefits from a fully retractable canvas waterproof roof. It also has aluminum skid plates, LED headlights & taillights along with bespoke 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped around in 245/45/19 Pirelli Winter Carving snow tires.

Stepping inside the cabin, Kia’s Trail’ster concept looks just about the same as the interior of a Soul but we do notice the brown leather seats, aluminum inlays on the floor mats, all-wheel drive system controls, thickset gear shifter and a red ignition button.


Kia says the concept serves as a preview for a production all-wheel drive Soul.

Source: Kia

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