Kia Pride EV - Celebrating 80 Years with an Electric Twist

Although the South Korean manufacturer has been trading for 80 years, the first Kia to be officially imported to the UK was the Pride supermini in 1991. Since then, the company has come a long way, establishing a firm foothold in the market, particularly in the area of electric vehicles.

Aptly, Kia UK has opted on a 1996 Kia Pride 1.3 LX five-door for the basis of their celebratory electromod. Encouragingly for enthusiasts, the Pride EV retains its original five-speed manual transmission and front-wheel-drive layout, but its petrol engine has been replaced with a fully electric powertrain. The 1.3-litre engine is swapped for a 107bhp (80kW) electric motor, delivering 99 per cent more torque than the original. Twin 10kWh battery packs, installed over each axle, also improve the car’s weight distribution and lower the centre of gravity, improving handling.

Visually, the makeover stays true to its 1980s roots, with 12-inch wheels and boxy styling. Updates come in the form of a ‘White Pearl’ respray – taken from Kia’s latest EV palette – while the interior retains its grey cloth trim, updated with lime green stitching to reflect the brand’s current electric design cues.

Newfound Performance

One thing that isn’t retro is the Pride EV’s performance. Thanks to its 107bhp electric motor, the restomod sprints from 0-62mph in an estimated eight seconds – cutting the original time in half. The conversion also includes three drive modes – ‘Eco’, ‘Sport’, and ‘Auto’ – giving drivers the option of relaxed, efficient cruising or sharper, more spirited acceleration. In ‘Eco’ mode, it replicates the original 60bhp output, optimising the range to around 120 miles per charge.

Switching to ‘Sport’ dramatically improves low-speed acceleration and responsiveness, with the Pride EV reportedly able to smoke its tyres thanks to the additional torque. While there are no plans to productionise the car, Kia UK are intending to put the electromod against the clock in a series of performance tests.

Electric Conversion

The conversion, completed by Electrogenic in Oxfordshire, preserves the car’s original structure and is fully reversible for anyone wishing to return the Pride to its petrol-powered roots. The analogue instruments have been cleverly repurposed to display the battery’s charge level, keeping the cabin’s retro charm intact.

Despite the addition of two battery packs, the car’s weight has only increased marginally, from 850kg to 870kg. Modern features like drive-by-wire throttle control have been integrated, though regenerative braking has been kept minimal to maintain the traditional feel of the manual gearbox.

The Pride EV is the latest in a series of one-off projects from Kia UK, following in the footsteps of the track-ready Stinger GT420 and the custom-built Soul EV beach buggy. This aligns with Kia’s forward-looking Plan S strategy, which focuses on electrification, aiming to launch 15 electric models globally by 2027, with nine destined for the UK market. While the Pride EV remains a one-off, it proves that small, lightweight EVs can be both practical and engaging to drive – an achievement that’s certainly worth celebrating.