2012 Kia Soul Update Confirmed For Australia, Sorento Update In Q3 2012

2012 KIA SOUL

Kia Australia has confirmed a September launch for its updated 2012 Soul line-up, bringing a number of styling and equipment tweaks to the quirky-cool hatch.

Revealed late last month, the updated Soul features Kia's new 2.0 litre 'NU' petrol engine, boosting power to 120kW - up from the 91kW output of the current Soul's 1.6 litre petrol engine.

In the US market, fuel consumption for the 2.0 litre petrol engine is listed at 8.7 l/100km in city driving, and 7.0 l/100km on the highway.

Speaking with TMR today, Kia Australia's Kevin Hepworth said that while local timing for the NU engine has still to be confirmed, it is likely that it will feature when the Australian-delivered Soul range is updated in September.

A new GDI (gasoline direct injected) 1.6 litre petrol engine will also feature in the US line-up. Mr Hepworth said that cost and supply factors mean that, at least for the near future, it is unlikely to feature in the Australian range.

New six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are also expected to replace the current five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions.

• Click here to learn more about the updated 2012 Kia Soul.

2013 Kia Sorento

An update to the Sorento large SUV is also on the cards for Australia, with a local debut expected for sometime in the third quarter of 2012.

In the US, Kia has added its new 2.4 litre GDI engine - already featured in the Kia Optima sedan - to the Sorento line-up. Mr Hepworth said that it is not clear at this stage if the new engine will make its way to the local line-up.

The Sorento was last updated in Australia late last year, gaining a number of feature and equipment upgrades.

• Click here to learn more about the Kia Sorento.

Mr Hepworth added that the UVO infotainment system available with many US-market Kia models is unlikely to be offered in Australia, due in part to its dependence on America's satellite radio network.

A GPS satellite navigation system is in development for Kia's Australian line-up, which the company has already confirmed for the Optima. Mr Hepworth added that the system will likely be added to the Sportage range also, along with the Sorento - "well before its late 2012 update."