Cabrio Pickup Leisure Car! First Kia Soulster photo, info leaked
by Alex Nunez on Jan 9th 2009 at 9:48AM 
The best description of the Kia Soulster comes via a Google translation of Automarket.ro's post on it: Cabrio pick-up leisure car. Hey, works for us. What we appear to have in the Soulster is a cool-looking compact, four-seater (note that headrest behind the B-pillar) that's sort of in the vein of the late Isuzu Amigo. The windshield's chopped, the looks are a blend of Fisher-Price cute and Tonka Truck rugged, and overall, it works. A rollbar adds a hint of style and ostensibly helps keep everyone's noggins in one piece should the Soulster become inverted. Kiamino? Soulster Pickup? If Kia has the stones to actually produce something this fun-looking, they might just have a hit on their hands. We'll have full coverage from Motown starting this weekend. Thanks for the tip, Mircea.
[Source: Automarket.ro]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ekow 9:52AM (1/09/2009)
That my friends is awesome...
Would I buy one?
No.
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Yikes 9:52AM (1/09/2009)
I for one.......LIKE IT.
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firstplace 10:22PM (1/09/2009)
Its a girly truck....
Jruhi4 9:56AM (1/09/2009)
To author Alex Núñez: I think you meant Isuzu Amigo, not Rodeo.
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Alex Nunez 9:58AM (1/09/2009)
Indeed I did. Fixed.
Jimbo 9:58AM (1/09/2009)
The Amigo was called the Rodeo Sport during the last few model years it was offered. Note to Kia: BUILD IT AND SELL IT IN THE U.S.!!!
Orpheus 10:00AM (1/09/2009)
Note to Kia;
If you build it, they will come....
End
On a personal note, that looks sick!
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geo.stewart 11:06AM (1/09/2009)
Amigos didnt exactly fly off the shelves and they could come with off road ability.
kia sportages didnt exactly fly off the shelves
Suzuki X90s, well they didnt go anywhere :-)
daihatsu rockys didnt exactly fly off the shelves
cute to look at, impractical as hell.
decent 2 seater barely a back seat, no trunk, no off road ability, usually no power.
Torrent 11:37AM (1/09/2009)
I think it looks great as a truck. Just look at it and imagine a pickup.
The beltline is too tall for a convertible.
TORONTO 10:04AM (1/09/2009)
Does anyone know if this will be sold at all locations of Toys'r'us ??
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jL 10:08AM (1/09/2009)
It sort of reminds me of the PT Cruizer Convertible... which I liked at first and then within a year felt indifferent to.
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Mazda FTW! 10:09AM (1/09/2009)
I India we used to have a similar vehicle called the Maruti Suzuki Jeep (or something to that effect). Small two seater, pikcup/open-bed/SUV thing. Very cool. Our police forces used to use it (and probably still do). They should definitely start offering more different body-styles in the small-car segment. This will generate more interest among the North American population towards downsizing but still having fun and being able to choose the type of vehicle that suits them without having to resort to a 4500lbs machine.
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Red 10:16AM (1/09/2009)
If that's what it actually winds up looking like, that's hot as hell.
Yes...I said a Kia, while still odd and funky, is hot as hell...
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Smegley 10:20AM (1/09/2009)
This would be hilarious with an 8" lift.
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Cellien 10:33AM (1/09/2009)
"This would be f**cking awesome with an 8" lift."
Fixed. :)
adrenalnjunky 10:36AM (1/09/2009)
Yep and with the weight, I bet you could get away with Dana 44's, but for the insane factor - it needs Rockwells.
JB 10:23AM (1/09/2009)
No back seats and it would've been a - - -
Kia Camino.
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Christophe 10:26AM (1/09/2009)
That looks awesome....I really like the direction they are moving..
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Derek 10:28AM (1/09/2009)
Someone is taking aim at the Wrangler again. And that makes me happy. I have an 05 Wrangler and was really let down by much of what the new Wrangler became. Competition means better products and lower prices for consumers. For those people that want the fun of a Wrangler, but probably at a much, much lower cost (and possibly better quality) this Kia looks like a good option.
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BluePariah 10:53AM (1/09/2009)
This is hardly going after the Wrangler. This will be a road only, FWD "lifestyle" vehicle. Think xB, Cube, HHR. Essentially, in a rather smart move, Hyundai seems to be positioning Kia to be their Scion - first time buyers, lower cost of entry, and younger crowd (even though Scion largely failed at attracting that crowd).
Of the three, I think this one is by far the hippest and truest to the cheap, light, high design ethos...