2012 Soul Gains 1,6L GDI Engine, 6-speed Automatic Transmission

Kia introduces refreshed Soul facelift 2012 at the 2011 New York Auto Show.

Kia Soul crossover, a vehicle that began the Korean carmaker’s design-led transformation two years ago, comes back to New York with updated styling and upgraded powertrain technology.

For the 2012 model year, the popular Soul crossover received a significant number of technology enhancements to deliver more power and improved fuel efficiency, says Kia Motors America.

The all-new Kia Soul amplifies the fun-to-drive factor with significant horsepower increases, new six-speed transmissions and the ability to deliver up to 34 miles per gallon on the highway.

Under the hood, the Kia Soul 2012 – model year features the carmaker’s new 1.6L GDI Gamma engine, which generates 135 horsepower (11 percent increase from previous engine).

The more potent 2.0L four-cylinder unit is also available with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2.0L engine in the Kia Soul 2012 generates 160 horsepower – a 13 percent increase over the previous 2.0L engine.

The 1,6L engine is 10 percent more fuel efficient than its predecessor and has a rating of 28/34 mpg city/highway, while the more potent 2.0L unit achieves 27/33 mpg city/highway.

“After just two model years, we have given the 2012 Soul crossover significant improvements in style, power and fuel economy, making this iconic vehicle the perfect package for consumers looking for something a little outside the box. The Soul crossover vehicle has always stood out from the crowd and was responsible for bringing new customers to the Kia brand and positioning the company for a series of record-breaking successes. With gas prices on the rise, this refresh adds even more style and fun-to-drive performance, while also improving fuel economy by 10 percent,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of Marketing & Communications at Kia Motors America.

Kia Soul 2012 Model Year image gallery: