As with pretty much every other automaker, Kia loves to make a special edition. Just a couple of months back, we were introduced to a special edition of the Stinger, and there are many more on the way. However, it's not just the Stinger that gets special treatment, and we've seen special versions of even the Sportage. Now it's the turn of the Kia Soul EV, with a one-off model called the Boardmasters Edition. But what's most special about this one-off beach-ready EV is that it was originally destined for the crusher before being given new life by being recycled into a design study that is meant to appeal to surfers.

Created by Kia UK, the one-off marks the automaker's partnership with Boardmasters 2021 and is fitted with a custom roof rack designed to house two 7ft9 Tahe Bic Malibu surfboards, 30-inch diameter, 265/75 Maxxis Bighorn sand tires to handle the beach wrapped around 16-inch bright white steel wheels, and a lift kit that doubles the ground clearance compared to the standard model - now up to 12.2 inches. Then, to accommodate the chunky tires, Kia gave it a set of bolt-on fender flares. It also gets a roof-mounted LED spotlight and a curvy solar panel. Inside, the rear seats have been thrown out and replaced with wooden decking and a swing-out arm from which one can hang damp wetsuits. There's a little beach bench made of reclaimed wood that attaches to the rear bumper for you to relax in the sun after a day out on the water catching waves.

The one-off was created to mark the launch of Boardmasters 2021 in Cornwall, a major surfing and music festival that takes place in two sites on the Cornish coast. The first is in Watergate Bay and is all about the music while the second site is on Fistral Beach, "the home of British surfing".

As a car created to grab attention and draw people's focus to both sustainability and the event, this Neptune Blue EV with bright white decals, a black roof, and a host of custom upgrades is awesome. With the solar panels able to power a mini-fridge or other small appliances too, it's the perfect companion for a festival. However, they don't contribute to increasing its electric range, and with the big sand-focused tires, roof rack, and other upgrades, it's likely unable to attain its standard 280-mile (WLTP) range.

The Kia Soul EV was originally supposed to launch in the USA for 2020 but was officially withdrawn last year before it ever made landfall.