When it comes to clever innovation we’re voting for the team at Kia’s design studios in Irvine, California.
Those hip west-coasters have done it again – wheeling out at the Chicago Auto Show this SUV concept called the Trail’ster.
Based on the funky Kia Soul, the Trail’ster is actually based on the funky Soul hatchback but features a raised ride-height and other off-road accoutrements.
Power comes from a turbocharged 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine delivering 138kW/250Nm driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and supplemented by a 26kW/135Nm electric drive system for the rear axle.
The aim was to make everything compact and light-weight so the 1.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack is mounted under the cargo floor.
Cleverly the electric motor can be the exclusive source of power enabling the Kia Trail’ster to be emissions-free pure electric for short distances.
There are noticeable styling changes appropriate for an off-roader designed for the likes of mountain bikers and snow enthusiasts but it is still unmistakably a Kia Soul.
“The Trail’ster concept is a near-future look at how the production Kia Soul would logically evolve into an AWD-capable version that’s built to escape the city streets and roam into the mountain wilderness,” explained Kia North American design boss Tom Kearns – who is fast securing a reputation as one of the world’s coolest car craftsmen.
