This Kia Classic Could be the World’s Most Unexceptional EV

South Korean carmaker Kia has marked its 80th anniversary in a very low-key way. Rather than create some crazy concept car, the company has simply updated one of its most mundane motors for the EV era.

The Kia Pride really is the most humble of hatchbacks. Built between 1987 and 2000 it was based on the Ford Festiva, and played an important role in Kia’s expansion overseas, offering cheap, basic motoring for the masses at a low, low price, coupled with an extensive warranty for added peace of mind.

To celebrate 80 years since the company was founded Kia turned to British electro-mod specialist Electrogenic, which has previously EV-swapped a wide range of classics from a Porsche 911 and Jaguar E-Type to a DeLorean.

A 1996 1.3 LX served as the donor car and its 60-hp four-cylinder engine was promptly extracted, to be replaced by an 80kW (109-hp) electric motor. The original five-speed manual transmission has been retained and 20kWh of batteries are fitted under the hood and in the trunk at a weight penalty of just 20 kg (44 lbs).

In Eco mode the Pride EV is limited to exactly the same output as the original car, which makes for a pedestrian performance, accelerating from 0-62 mph in 11.8 seconds. However, in Sport mode there’s 78 percent more power and almost double the torque so the Pride can finally be proud of itself, cutting that 0-62 mph time down to eight seconds. For day-to-day driving there’s also an Auto mode, which only uses third gear.

Driven conservatively the Pride EV should be able to cover 120 miles on a full charge and is fitted with a Type 2 connector. On a U.K. domestic socket charging to capacity is said to take six hours.

If ever an EV was made for Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional then this is surely it.