Is the Kia e-AWD Trail’ster Concept Targeting Jeep Renegade? [Chicago Preview]

2015, kia, trailster, e-awd, awd, soul, jeep, chicago
Kia e-AWD Trail’ster Concept

Sporting a revolutionary all-wheel-drive system, the Kia e-AWD Trail’ster Concept will be unveiled at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show on Feb 12, 2015. Kia provided the teaser images you see here. This concept combines several technologies and features which are becoming very popular and targeting the urban dweller/adventurer.

Kia says the Trail’ster will use a turbocharged gasoline engine in tandem with an electric motor on the rear axle for AWD capability. The concept vehicle will also feature a fully-retractable canvas roof.

Essentially, this is a Kia Soul-based gasoline hybrid all-wheel-drive vehicle with additional ground clearance and a large roof opening. This sounds an awful lot like the 2015 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk, save for the hybrid part.

kia_trailster_e_awd_concept_front

In my opinion, the concept of the Trail’ster is not farfetched. Kia has the expertise in turbocharging and hybrid powertrains. They also have the all-electric Soul EV. The sum of these technologies might easily translate into a production vehicle if there were enough interest. The Soul is Kia’s second most popular vehicle in the United States, after the Optima sedan.

We thought it was a little odd that Jeep chose to bring the front-wheel-drive only Kia Soul for comparison against the 2015 Jeep Renegade during its launch last month. Perhaps an AWD Kia Soul is indeed right around the corner?

Check out this TFLcar mashup review between the 2015 Jeep Renegade, 2015 Kia Soul, 2015 Nissan Juke and 2015 Buick Encore in the hills of Hollister, California.