REPORT: Kia Soul'ster headed for production
Kia Soul'ster - Click above for a high-res image gallery
One of the reasons automakers build concept vehicles is to gauge the public's reaction to a new design. Apparently, the Kia Soul'ster garnered enough goodwill and interest after its debut at the Detroit Auto Show the Korean automaker is strongly considering putting the canvas-roofed Soul-amino into production. Previously, Kia's Alex Fedorak said the Tonka-mobile was created "in a fashion that was production-capable."
According to Kia-World, though the automaker isn't officially saying the Soul'ster will be mass produced, unnamed Korean magazines are reporting it's looking good and that a decision is on the way in short order. If there's any truth to the rumors, we can expect to see the little subcompact pick'em-up truck on American roads in the second half of 2010. Thanks for the tip, Mike!
Gallery: Detroit 2008: Kia Soul'ster Live
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
Gallery: Kia Soul'ster Concept
[Source: Kia-World]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Aloysius Vampa 7:35PM (6/01/2009)
Wow.
Good luck. It's an interesting... truck, to be sure.
Reply
VW GTi 8:13PM (6/01/2009)
Reminds me of the 1995 Kia Sportage Convertible as well as the Rav4 Convertible.
inline6 7:39PM (6/01/2009)
Following the long, storied tradition that the Subaru BRAT and the Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler began 30 years ago.
It'll be about as successful, too.
Reply
Snark 7:52PM (6/01/2009)
If they give it decent payload capacity, it could be quite utilitarian.
Smegley 10:02PM (6/01/2009)
It looks like its payload capacity will be fine. It can probably tow up to two My Li'l Ponies in Barbie and Ken's horse trailer.
Rob 10:27PM (6/01/2009)
Towing capacity= penis contest.
Who cares. Most trucks don't even tow anything, so please STFU.
sandler 2:06PM (6/02/2009)
Agreed! When has a 2-door trucklet thingy with a canvas back end ever been successful? Kis would be insane to build this. I'd rather seen an all-wheel drive version of the 4-door Soul.
letstakeawalk 7:43PM (6/01/2009)
Judging by the large numbers of Kia Souls I already see around here, the Soul'ster will be a very popular beach vehicle. I think it looks great.
Reply
Hike15 7:50PM (6/01/2009)
Only soul i've seen in my area was parked in a field next to what looked like an old house....i guess the popularity is regional.
ugg.tryptophan 9:08PM (6/01/2009)
ive only seen two around san pablo and el cerrito
GOT 4:16AM (6/02/2009)
I'm seeing Souls everywhere (NE). The local Kia dealer has sold their entire allotment.
I think this Soulster looks awesome. It's just what I'm looking for, that is, a small truck and or Jeep (Jeeps are expensive which leaves the Ford Ranger).
I've test driven a Soul and they are a lot better (and bigger) than the diminutive Subaru Brat (my Dad had one of those things in the 80s).
The Soulster will rock!
nighttime__ 7:45PM (6/01/2009)
I can imagine this being involved in a gasoline fight...
Reply
ugg.tryptophan 9:07PM (6/01/2009)
after picking up some orange mocha frappachinos?
Aprime 7:46PM (6/01/2009)
Pontiac Stinger, anyone?
Feels like the 90s all over again.
Reply
Protzenegger 8:34PM (6/01/2009)
+1
That was a great little concept. The '90s rocked.
James 9:55PM (6/01/2009)
I was thinking the JDM Toyota bB Open Deck.
http://www.tuned1.at/bb/pics/bb_1_opendeck_01.jpg
Same color, too! It's 2001 all over again!
Tsunami Racer 7:46PM (6/01/2009)
i look forward to seeing soulster hamster commercials
Reply
mikhalian 7:56PM (6/01/2009)
It already has considerably more power than the old Amigo and Subaru Brat, so this might do a bit better. I could be wrong, but i thought the Amigo had 70-90hp at best. That's around 50% more power.
Reply
Stuka 8:06PM (6/01/2009)
No, Amigo came with a 130, or 205hp engine in the later years. The first gens had a 110hp or 120hp.
mikhalian 1:41AM (6/02/2009)
Heh, I bothered to look it up and we're both right. The 2.3 liter in the first gen amigo only made 96hp, and 103lbs of torque. That's the Amigo I remember, I never new about it getting better engine options later on.