2008 Paris Auto Show Preview: Kia Soul Hybrid

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SEOUL, South Korea — Kia hopes to send a resounding message to 2008 Paris Auto Show attendees about just how green it is, with a bevy of eco-friendly production vehicles and concepts, including a hybrid version of the new Kia Soul.

Also slated to debut on the Kia stand in Paris are the production version of the Soul, which made its official debut in the home market earlier this week, as well as versions of the Kia cee'd compact equipped with a hybrid powertrain and with a fuel-saving ISG (idle stop-and-go) system.

The Soul, which Kia likes to describe as an "urban crossover," was seen in near-final production trim at the Geneva show. In Europe, the production model will offer a choice of 124-horsepower 1.6-liter gas or diesel four-cylinder engines. In the U.S., the Soul will be equipped with a 140-hp 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder only.

Kia said it will begin building a version of the Soul in China in 2009. Versions for the U.S. and Europe will come from South Korea.

The Soul Hybrid is fitted with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas engine and a 15kW electric motor that produces an additional 77 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid powertrain is mated to a continuously variable transmission and is fitted with ISG and regenerative braking. Kia quotes a fuel consumption figure of 48 mpg and low CO2 emissions figure of 117 g/km.

The same basic propulsion system is being fitted to the cee'd hybrid for real-world development testing in Europe, Kia said.

What this means to you: Kia wants Europeans to know that it's plenty green. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent