Kia Celebrates 80 Years with Electrifying Restomod of the Iconic Pride Hatchback

Kia commemorates its 80-year milestone by unveiling a modern electric retrofit of the modest Pride hatchback, an initiative led by Kia's branch in the United Kingdom.

The transformation of the vehicle into an electric model was executed by Electrogenic, a British company known for equipping vintage vehicles such as the Citroën DS with electric engines. Although the Kia Pride may not be as iconic as the DS, it played a significant role in Kia's history.

Originally established in 1944 as a maker of bicycle components under the name Kyungsung Precision Industry, the business later rebranded to Kia Industries in 1952. They ventured into automotive production with the creation of their inaugural vehicle, the Kia Brisa, in 1974. However, it was the launch of the Pride, a model known globally as the Mazda 121, that propelled Kia into the international market. In the United States, this vehicle was marketed as the Ford Festiva during the model years 1988 to 1993, before eventually transforming into the Aspire.

1996 Kia Pride transformed into an electric vehicle

The vehicle that provided parts was a 1996 Kia Pride 1.3 LX five-door hatchback that belonged to Kia's historical collection in the United Kingdom. Electrogenic states that the car's outer appearance remains untouched, including the small 12-inch wheels, and no lasting changes have been applied to the car's framework, which means the modifications can be undone if necessary.

Switching out the traditional 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine for an electric motor results in a significant boost in performance. While the original gasoline engine delivered 60 horsepower and 87 pound-feet of torque, the updated Pride EV now offers 80 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque in its standard Auto driving setting, with an increased 107 horsepower and 173 pound-feet of torque in Sport mode. This enhancement slashes the vehicle's 0-62 mph acceleration time from a sluggish 19.8 seconds down to a more agile 8.0 seconds. For those seeking efficiency, an Eco mode is available that replicates the power output of the original gasoline engine.

The vehicle continues to channel energy to the front wheels via the initially installed 5-speed manual gearbox, which has undergone reconstruction alongside a high-capacity clutch to manage the increased torque produced by the electric motor. Kia notes that the Eco and Sport settings reduce the regenerative braking, allowing for a more enhanced manual driving experience. Conversely, the Auto setting increases regeneration, offering a driving sensation akin to that of a typical electric vehicle.

1996 Kia Pride transformed into an electric vehicle

Two battery packs, each with a capacity of 10-kwh, are positioned—one beneath the bonnet and the other beneath the elevated floor of the storage space—offering a maximum distance of 120 miles when the vehicle is operated in a prudent manner using the Eco setting, as mentioned by Kia. The vehicle is equipped with a 3.3-kw charging unit, ingeniously concealed behind the conventional fuel filling door, allowing the batteries to be fully replenished in approximately six hours.

Despite incorporating two battery units, the Pride EV still maintains a light frame at only 1,918 pounds, a slight increase from the original model's 1,873 pounds. This suggests that, although challenging, managing to maintain a low weight during electric vehicle conversions is achievable. Similarly, Bedeo, a company from the UK, asserts that their electric conversions of Land Rovers manage to avoid adding extra weight.

Kia is not alone in reviving a classic car model as an electric vehicle restomod. Its parent company, Hyundai, has also transformed its initial self-designed Pony hatchback and the Grandeur sedan from the 1980s into electric versions. Meanwhile, in 2023, a team of trainees at Audi's facility in Neckarsulm, Germany, converted an old NSU Prinz 4, from one of its heritage brands, into an electric car to celebrate the factory's 150th anniversary of production.

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