Electrogenic unveiled a very special secret project at the Scramble, adding a bolt of intrigue to a humble 1996 Kia Pride.
The Korean manufacturer has treated itself to an electomod for its 80th birthday, replacing the car’s 1.3-litre engine for a 107bhp electric motor via the Kidlington and Bicester Motion specialist. Like all of Electrogenic’s conversions, the process is completely reversible and retains its manual gearbox.
Two 10kWh battery packs mean the little Pride can potter along for 120 miles between charges, which takes six hours and makes use of the original filler door, unless you chase the 8 secs 0-60 mph time.
A few tweaks have been made to reflect the current Kia range, including retrimming the seats with a supersoft grey with lime green piping. The remainder of the car is largely the same but restored, except for the Pridev nameplate on the back.
Kia started in 1944 making bicycle components before moving on to complete bikes in the early 1950s. It stepped up to three-wheelers in the 1960s and reworked Mazda models, culminating in the Mazda-based Brisa in 1974.
Five years after it launched the Kia Pride, in 1986, the brand arrived in the UK in 1991.
