Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Kia Soul.

In April of 2009, the Scion xB will finally get some stiff competition from Kia in the form of the Soul. As reported previously, the new model will debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, measuring 161 inches long, 70 inches wide and 63 inches tall. According to Automotive News, the Soul will be packing either a 1.6- or 2.0-liter gasoline engine powering the front wheels when it arrives in the States, while European consumers get a choice of a 1.6-liter gasoline or diesel engine.

In addition to aping the xB's boxy shape, Kia will be offering a similar line of customization parts to make each Soul unique, so expect a variety of accessories, options and color combinations inspired by the Soul Burner, Diva and Searcher concepts that debuted in Geneva. Pricing has yet to be announced, but if Kia expects to compete with Scion, the Soul won't be knocking on the $20k ceiling.



[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Kia Soul

While the production Kia Soul won't be revealed until later this year at the Paris Motor Show, the opening of the London show brings the release of more official images from the automaker. One thing's certain: it'll be hip to be square in 2009, when both the Soul and the Nissan Cube arrive to give the Scion xB some company. Kia also officially announced that the car will be offered exclusively in a front-engine/front drive layout and that it's 4,105 mm (161 in) long, 1,785 mm (70 in) wide, 1,610 mm (63 in) tall, and has a 2,550 mm (100 in) wheelbase. In case you were wondering, compared to the xB, it's got a shorter wheelbase and overall length, but is a hair wider and taller. The engine selection in Europe will consist of 1.6L gasoline and diesel four-cylinders. As you can see, the photos show a neat package that'll probably have plenty of folks embracing their inner geeks when it arrives in U.S. showrooms next April.


[Sources: Kia]

Looking startlingly like a Vans shoe, preproduction versions of Kia's Soul will be doing their roadie routine with the Vans Warped Tour in the U.S. this summer. The front and rear of the car will be hidden under camo tape done up like Vans trademark checkerboard pattern, and dark windows will keep prying eyes out, but kids will still get a good look at what's on offer.

Taking what appears to be more than a few pages from the Scion playbook, the Warped Tour sponsorship will also include things like interactive Soul Lounges with live DJs, airbrush tattoo artists, and plenty of contests. There's even going to be a solar powered stage. Kids with custom Kia wristbands will get into Kia VIP sections near the main stages, and everyone can keep up with the action at Kia's concert blog site.

If what you want to do is actually see the car, Kia won't bare its Soul completely until the Paris Motor Show later this year.

[Source: Kia]

Click above to enlarge

Kia has released the first official image of the production Soul. And that's pretty much it. The press release accompanying it is several paragraphs of filler that tells you exactly nothing of value, other than that the car keeps "it's" concept forebear's name and will be formally unveiled in October at the Paris Motor Show (which we knew). Kia also says that the Soul "defies classification," which is elaborate automaker code for, "it's a small crossover that's our answer to the Scion xB." Yes, but this is better-looking.

[Source: Kia]

While it could be argued that Volkswagen was really the company that started the box-that-it-came-in styling trend with its old vans, vehicles like the Honda Element and Scion xB made it popular again. Besides being a rolling fashion statement, this shape of vehicle also happens to be extremely practical and allows for much more interior space than more streamlined bodywork, so we're happy to hear that Kia is planning on offering its upcoming Soul small car in the U.S. in addition to the Chinese market. We have seen what appears to be production-ready pictures of the vehicle already, and the production Soul should retain most of what we've seen in the concepts, minus the crazy paint jobs. The Soul is certainly a bold step for Kia, which has so far erred on the safe side when it comes to vehicle styling. Automotive News reports that the front-wheel-drive Soul will be equipped with a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine and should arrive in both China and the States next March. Hopefully a production version of the KOUP Concept will be right on its tail.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd.]

We got our first look at what the production Kia Soul will look like during the Geneva Motor Show where the South Korean automaker unveiled a trio of tuner Soul concepts. The actual production five-door hatch, however, may have just been unceremoniously debuted online over at Kia-World.net, which is hosting a batch of what appear to be official pics of the production version. We hear the actual car won't be debuted until the Paris Motor Show in September, but in the pics it looks ready to go right now. Clearly a competitor for those considering vehicles such as the Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix, Mazda5, etc., the Soul looks to be an exercise in efficient packaging and utility, with a dose of very un-Kia-like style thrown in. We haven't heard yet if it's meant for U.S. consumption, but the vehicle in these shots is right-hand drive. Click the source below for more photos.

[Source: Kia-World.net via Fast Lane Daily]

Click for some live shots of the latest version of Kia's Soul concept

Today in Las Vegas, Kia COO Len Hunt told us that the production Kia Soul we'll be getting before too long will look almost exactly like the updated concept they showed us here today at SEMA. It also happens to look a lot like the spy shots we showed you last month. In case you forgot, Kia introduced the Soul crossover at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. The camo-covered production version has been spotted in the Detroit area not far from the Hyundai-Kia Tech Center. The production version looks like it sticks pretty close to the concept on the outside. The main visual differences are the rear suicide doors being replaced with conventional types and frames around the side glass. The shape of the vehicle with the slight downward sloping roof-line and the boxy front remains true to form. We'll probably see this one make its public debut during the coming auto show season, perhaps as soon as the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Approximately six months ago, we got news that Kia's Soul crossover concept would be entering production, and now we have the first spy shots taken in Korea. Designed in California and unveiled at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, the Soul will be a strong competitor to the flood of new crossovers coming to market.

The design of the production model is very close to the concept. Basically, it loses the suicide doors, has smaller wheels and the roof isn't as chopped. The Soul will fit five occupants and be powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed auto. No AWD version is expected – to save costs Kia has stuck with FWD and will price the vehicle to reflect this. The Soul is also expected to go to Europe where it will most likely come with a diesel engine as an option.

As a cheap and fuel-efficient way to move five people, the Soul could be just the right thing.

[Source: Kia World]

At the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, Kia unveiled its Soul to the world, or at least its Soul concept (photo above). Now the Korean automaker says it's ready to put its Soul up for sale in the U.S.

In show car form, the Soul was a four-door crossover powered by a 2-liter 4-cylinder with dimensions very near both Honda's Fit and Scion's xB. Not coincidentally, those will be the Soul's two main competitors when it goes on sale early in 2008. That means the Soul would need to come in priced somewhere in the $14k - $17k range.

By the time Kia's crossover gets here, Ford and Chrysler both are expected to be entering the same segment. Kia has proven to be stiff competition on price, warranty and content, and there's no reason to the the Soul won't up a similarly good fight.

Click here for photos of the Soul from the 2006 Detroit show as well as from Kia.

[Source: Brandweek]