Jul 4, 2016, 6:19pm ET

Kia confirms Soul Turbo in new ad [Video]

A Kia Soul Turbo will arrive by year\'s end.

A new Kia ad has confirmed that the Korean automaker is planning to introduce a turbocharged version of its popular Soul hatchback by year's end.

The two-minute commercial largely focuses on Kia's signature Hamsters in an "epic jam session,” but an interesting text appears at the 1:46 mark; under the banner 2016 Soul, the copy reads GAS - ELECTRIC - TURBO (WINTER 2016).

A turbo version of the Kia Soul has been rumored since 2014. It is believed that the Soul Turbo, which could debut at the Los Angeles auto show this fall, will be powered by Kia's 1.6L turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder engine. Under the hood of the Kia Forte Koup that mill is good for 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The Soul Turbo should at least match those figures.

A six-speed automatic transmission seems like a sure bet for the Soul Turbo, but Kia could also offer the popular hatchback with a six-speed manual. An all-wheel drive system for the Soul is also said to be in the pipeline, but it remains to be seen if AWD will launch alongside the new Turbo model.

The new Turbo model will likely come with a few other performance upgrades, such as a sport suspension and up-rated brakes. Given the Soul's value pricing, the Soul Turbo could represent an interesting alternative to a vehicle like the sporty Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Look for more details on the Soul Turbo to break in the coming months.