The quirky Kia Soul just got a bit more firepower.
Kia has officially introduced the 2017 Soul Exclaim, a new range-topping version that boasts a more potent engine, improved fuel economy, and a sharper look than the standard model. Also called the Soul Turbo by Kia, the vehicle’s upgraded powerplant is its most significant enhancement, as its 1.6-liter engine puts out 201 horsepower. That’s 37 more ponies than the mid-range 2.0-liter and 71 more than the base 1.6-liter, but improved acceleration isn’t the only benefit the turbo reaps.
The Soul Exclaim returns 28 mpg combined, which is 1 mpg more than the Soul Plus and 2 mpg more than the entry-level model. So not only is the Exclaim the most powerful Soul you can by, it’s also the most frugal at the gas pump.
“We wanted to provide loyal Soul lovers and new buyers a sportier option,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning for Kia Motors America. “The 2017 Soul Exclaim with its turbocharged engine gives the car’s fans another wonderful choice from an already wonderful line-up.”
One reason for the improved fuel economy is the Soul Exclaim’s transmission, which brings us to one aspect of the car some drivers won’t like. The Exclaim is offered solely with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, so unlike the Hyundai Veloster Turbo and Elantra Sport — both of share the Exclaim’s engine — you can’t spec the Soul with a six-speed manual. Kia says the dual-clutch is better for fuel efficiency and acceleration, but if we’re honest, we’ll miss the third pedal.
In addition to increased performance, the Exclaim features enriched styling inside and out. As far as the exterior goes, the flagship Soul includes exclusive 18-inch wheels, red-accented body trim, a chrome grille surround, unique badging, and dual chrome twin-tip exhaust. Inside the cabin, drivers will enjoy a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 315-watt Harman Kardon stereo, and an 8.0-inch navigation display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The 2017 Soul Exclaim will start at $23,500 (including an $850 destination charge) and should be rolling into Kia dealers soon.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.