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Kia Pride EV restomod unveiled with 107 BHP & 5-speed MT

The car is said to be just 20 kg heavier than the 830 kg kerb weight of the original hatchback.

Kia UK has partnered with Electrogenic - an Oxfordshire-based Restomod company, to celebrate the brand's 80th anniversary.

As part of the celebrations, Kia has unveiled a restomod of its small 4-door hatchback, the Pride. The Kia Pride initially debuted in 1996 and came with a 1.3-litre 4-cylinder engine producing 60 BHP and 116 Nm. The restomod, though, comes in the form of a pure-EV with an electric motor producing up to 107 BHP and 234 Nm.

Having said that, the power output depends on the driving mode selected. The Pride EV has three modes: Eco, Auto, and Sport. In Eco mode, the power is limited to 60 BHP and 116 Nm, matching the hatchback's original specs. In this mode, the car offers 120 miles (193 km) of range from its twin 10 kWh battery packs. In 'Auto' mode, power is bumped up to 80 BHP and 176 Nm while adding pronounced regenerative braking. The Sport mode gets the full 107 BHP and 234 Nm power output. Kia claims the Pride EV is capable of sprinting from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in around 8 seconds in Sport mode.

The most interesting aspect though is that the Kia Pride EV restomod has managed to retain the original 5-speed manual gearbox, which has been paired with a 'performance-oriented clutch kit. The car is said to be just 20 kg heavier than the 830 kg kerb weight of the original hatchback.

In terms of design, the Kia Pride EV carries forward an almost identical look to the original hatchback. It comes finished in 'White Pearl' paint, with upgraded front and rear lights and classic 12-inch steel rims with wheel covers. The charging port for the hatchback is hidden under the car's original fuel filler cap. Inside, the Pride EV features the analogue dials from the original hatchback, along with period-correct grey upholstery. It does, however, come with lime green accents, which mimic the trim on the brand's EV6 GT.

The Kia Pride EV comes with a Type 2 connector with a 3.3 kW onboard charger. This means that the car takes 6 hours to charge from 0 - 100% via a standard wall box.

Source: InsideEVs

 
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