Kia UK teamed up with British EV specialists Electrogenic to transform a 1996 Pride 1.3 LX five-door from their heritage fleet. The team hand-built this one-of-a-kind electric vehicle in the UK, aiming to create a car that's as fun to drive as an early hatch.
The exterior of the Pride EV got a fresh coat of White Pearl paint, replacing its original Kingfisher Blue. The car keeps its original 12-inch steel wheels and wheel covers but sports upgraded front and rear lights.
Inside, the car features period-appropriate grey cloth trim with lime green piping on the seats and stitching on the floor mats. This green detailing connects visually to the interior and brake calipers of Kia's modern EV6 GT.
Under the hood, the transformation is dramatic. The original 1,324cc four-cylinder engine, which produced 60bhp and 118Nm of torque, has been replaced with an electric motor. This new powerplant delivers 107bhp and 235Nm of torque - that's a power increase of 77.7% and nearly double the torque.
The Pride EV keeps its original five-speed manual transmission, but Electrogenic has reworked it and fitted a new performance-oriented clutch kit. A new drive-by-wire system controls the throttle.
Power comes from twin 10kWh battery packs, one under the bonnet and another beneath a slightly raised boot floor, giving a total capacity of 20kWh. The car uses a Type 2 connector and a 3.3kW on-board charger, taking around six hours to charge from 1-100%.
In eco mode, the Pride EV can travel up to about 120 miles (193 km) on a single charge. Sport mode will eat into that range but deliver more exciting performance.
Despite the addition of batteries and an electric motor, the Pride EV has gained only 20kg over its original weight, now tipping the scales at 870kg without a driver. This gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 123 bhp/tonne in 'Sport' mode, similar to various petrol-powered hot hatches from the 1970s and 1980s.
The Pride EV keeps its original analogue instrument binnacle, maintaining its classic look while embracing modern electric technology.
As with all Electrogenic conversions, the original structure of the Pride has been entirely preserved; nothing is cut, and all modifications are entirely reversible.
Source: Kia UK