Kia Pride EV restomod celebrates brand's 80th anniversary

Kia has come a long way from being a bicycle manufacturer to eventually making vehicles. From initially selling budget-friendly cars to now being one of the world's premier auto brands that offer a wide variety of automobiles including EVs, Kia is proof that a car company can transform with the times.

And now, the Korean automaker is celebrating its 80th anniversary in a huge way. Kia UK and EV specialist Electrogenic have revealed the Pride EV, an all-electric version of the hatchback known worldwide.

Using a 1996 Kia Pride as a base, the EV restomod sees the humble hatchback's 1.3L naturally-aspirated engine replaced with an electric motor that's rated to produce 109 PS and 235 Nm of torque. Interestingly, Kia and Electrogenic kept the 5-speed manual gearbox (albeit modified) of the Pride EV and paired it with a high-performance clutch to accommodate the extra torque of the motor.

Power comes from a pair of 10 kWh battery packs which give the Pride EV a total capacity of 20 kWh. Kia says the electric hatchback can cover up to 193 km on a full charge. A 3.3 kW onboard charger comes as standard and can fully recharge the Pride EV to full in around 6 hours.

Like most EVs, the restomodded Pride comes with various drive modes – Eco, Sport, and Auto. Eco sets the powertrain to produce only up to 61 PS and 118 Nm of pull. Meanwhile, Sport unleashes all available power and allows the Pride EV to sprint from 0 – 100 km/h in around 8 seconds which is impressive for a hatchback of its size. To recoup spent energy, the Pride EV also comes with regenerative braking to slightly increase its range while on the go.

Style-wise, Kia decided to keep the classic hatchback mostly stock. We say “mostly” since it has some neat upgrades the original hatchback can only dream of having. For starters, it gets a new White Pearl exterior paint finish which is available on the EV3, EV5, EV6, EV9, and Niro. It also comes with lime green brake calipers which is a subtle tribute to the mighty EV6 GT. Retained, however, are the original 12-inch steelies complete with the wheel covers.

Hop inside and the Kia Pride EV takes you back to the 1990s with its simple yet charming cabin. From the original tape cassette player, factory stock air-conditioner, and window winders, the Pride EV's cabin is a reminder of Kia's origins. New, however, are the lime green accents on the seats which give it a more youthful vibe.

While the Pride EV may look like a retro production vehicle for the new age, this particular hatchback is (unfortunately) just a one-off meant to commemorate the brand's 80^th anniversary. Still, what a way to celebrate Kia's birthday by turning what was once a budget-friendly hatchback into an upcycled EV that produces no emissions.