Rumors have been swirling about a possible all-electric Kia Soul crossover for quite some time now, and today our spy photographers caught the Soul EV testing on public roads for the first time.

Reports suggest that the electric Kia Soul->ke2186 will feature a battery pack that will ensure a driving range of 200 km (124 miles) on one single charge. The same rumors suggest that the Soul EV's electric motor will afford the electric crossover a top speed of 87 mph and a sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under 12 seconds.

According to a report from Kia World, the Soul EV will have a global presence, as Kia will sell its upcoming EV in Europe, China and the U.S. The model will be put on sale in Europe in the first half of 2014 at a starting price of €27,500. We expect to see a price tag around $30K in the U.S. market.

Spy shots

On a first look it appears that the prototype caught testing looks like any regular Soul crossover, but get closer and you will notice the differences.

Up front the headlights are a little more square than on the current model, while the grille is positioned slightly higher.

The rear will also be redesigned and there is no exhaust system - a clear indication of a zero-emissions model.