Kia Soul facelift (2011) first official pictures

Kia picked the 2011 New York auto show to real the facelifted Kia Soul. As well as packing some visual scrub-ups, there's a bit of new tech too.

The 2011 facelifted Kia Soul matches a six-speed manual transmission to a 1.6-litre direct-injection engine. In the capacity-obsessed US there's a 2.0-litre four-cylinder but we won't get that.

The new 2011 Kia Soul is claimed to be around 10% more efficient, despite the 1.6 producing 138bhp - an 11% increase over the previous engine.

The US-spec 2.0 is similarly more powerful, mustering 160bhp. The cars in New York are available with hands-free infotainment system, heated front seats, leather seat trim, auto climate control, push button start and sat-nav.

Externally the Soul expresses some subtle changes: there are the all-too-common LED daytime running lights, a redesigned bonnet and new front and rear bumpers.

The rear window appears slightly smaller where the lines have been drawn in tighter and higher toward the back, but that's about it on the outside.

Inside the Soul offers the same airy, boxy milieu. The dash remains uncluttered with a three-dial cluster, LCD illumination and floating centre stack. A full audio system has been installed to cater for the iPod or MP3 enthusiast, all controllable by the head unit and steering wheel controls.

The New Kia Soul is expected to go on UK sale in autumn 2011; no prices yet.

By Sarah-Jayne Harrison