Autoblog

Kia readying GT and convertible Soul models?

George Kennedy — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Budget, Performance, Hatchback, Kia

Be it the upright seating arrangement, the utility in a compact package, or just buyers captivated by dancing hamsters, the Kia Soul has proven to be one of the Korean automaker's best-selling models. Its popularity has driven Kia to renew the funky hatch for the 2014 model year, perhaps with some unexpected variants.

The sleuths at CarPix have nabbed the next Soul testing in the desert, and even with the camouflage disguise, our spies say it looks like the redesign has left the Soul slightly lower and a little wider. Additionally, the headlights have a more squared-off, masculine appearance. This prototype features a larger lower grille, with the Kia corporate grille moved farther upward.

And while the prototype above is likely a look at the bread-and-butter model, AutoExpress is reporting the new generation may spawn a convertible variant. This appears to be purely rumor at this point and thus should be taken with one very big grain of salt, but Kia clearly has aspirations for the range beyond a single bodystyle. It has shown a number of envelope-pushing Soul-based concepts, including the Soul'ster pickup that sported an open roof. That concept was rumored to be headed for production at one time, but was later said to be killed due to the flaccid global economy.

A more likely spinoff is a Soul GT with augmented performance and sportier aesthetics. There is reason to believe that a GT model could come with a different bodystyle - after all, the Soul-based Track'ster concept that stole the Chicago Motor Show earlier this year was a three-door.

Either way, the Soul appears poised to be the last "box car" standing - The segment-pioneering Honda Element is already out of production and both the Scion xB and Nissan Cube face murky futures.

Kia readying GT and convertible Soul models? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Economy kills Kia Soul'ster

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Kia

Kia Soul'ster concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you've been crossing your fingers for a production version of the Kia Soul'ster concept from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, prepare to be disappointed. According to a report from Ward's Auto, Kia says that expanding the Soul lineup beyond the current five-door hatch would prove to be more difficult than you might think. Earlier reports stated that Kia was keen to the idea of building an open-top Soul, but changing economic times seem to have crushed those plans.

The Soul has done extremely well for itself since going on sale in early 2009, but since this is a niche vehicle that would only appeal to a very narrow segment of the market, the business case for building new variants doesn't make sense at this time. Kia's director of product planning, Orth Hendrick, tells Ward's that the Soul'ster, specifically, would have to be developed as an all-new model, due to its vast structural differences from the standard Soul.

Come 2012, the Soul will undergo its mid-cycle refresh, and we're expected to see more upscale content, as well as slight changes to both the front and rear fascias. In the meantime, those of you who are super hot for a Soul'ster will just have to scan the local used car lot for a soft-top Isuzu Amigo, instead.

Gallery: Kia Soul'ster Concept

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Report: Economy kills Kia Soul'ster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia designers reportedly still want Soul'ster built - is there a market for it?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Budget, Truck, Kia

2009 Kia Soul'ster concept - click above for high-res gallery

Will they build it or won't they? That's the question we've all been asking since Kia showed off its funky Soul'ster concept earlier this year at the Detroit Auto Show. We've been hearing rumblings that there's a solid push from inside the Korean automaker's own ranks to put the little trucklet into production, and it appears that's still the case.

Speaking to our friends at PickupTrucks.com at the LA Auto Show, Tom Kearns, Kia North America's Chief Designer, said, "Kia's internal design community is firmly behind building the Soul'ster. We'd like to see it happen. There's no official decision to build it but it's still possible."

The base Kia Soul starts at $13,995, and though we have no idea what Kia might charge the Soul'ster if it were to make it to U.S. dealerships, the open-bed unibody would likely have its own little niche to itself as it figures to be significantly smaller and cheaper than vehicles like the Honda Ridgeline. Would it sell? Let us know what you think in 'Comments.'

Gallery: Kia Soul'ster Concept

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Kia designers reportedly still want Soul'ster built - is there a market for it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fisker Karma Sunset, Converj, BlueSport Roadster win Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars

Fisker Karma Sunset Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Fisker's undeniably gorgeous Karma Sunset concept was named the 2009 Production Preview Vehicle of the Year at the North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards last night at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit. Organized by the South East Automotive Media Organization, the jurors also lauded VW's Concept BlueSport Roadster as the 2009 Concept Car of the Year and named the Cadillac Converj

"The Fisker Karma Sunset is just drop dead gorgeous" - juror Michael Bettencourt

the Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2009. The Kia Soul'ster won Concept Truck of the Year.

Aside from the Soul'ster, the winners combine an alternative fuel powerplant (plug-in hybrid, diesel or ER-EV) with lust-worthy design. We'll see if this does anything to dispense with the myth that green = fugly. The jury considered 23 concepts and 11 production preview vehicles that were introduced during the 2009 auto show season before selecting the top cars. See more pictures of the winners after the jump.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Fisker Karma S

[Source: Southeast Automotive Media Organization, Fisker]

Continue reading Fisker Karma Sunset, Converj, BlueSport Roadster win Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards

Fisker Karma Sunset, Converj, BlueSport Roadster win Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Kia Soul'ster headed for production

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Truck, Crossover, Kia, Rumormill

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

Gallery: Kia Soul'ster Concept

[Source: Kia-World]

REPORT: Kia Soul'ster headed for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia Soul'ster considered for production

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Truck, Crossover, Kia

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Kia Soul'ster

According to Automotive News, the Kia Soul'ster concept garnered a fair amount of praise at the Detroit Auto Show. So much so, that the automaker is considering producing the two-door pickup variant of Kia's new xB competitor.

Kia Motors America spokesperson, Alex Fedorak, said, "the response was so overwhelming" that production is a possibility. Although the Soul'ster was strictly a design study, the Soulamino was created "in a fashion that was production-capable."

At this point, Kia execs haven't given the Soul pickup the green-light, but if the boxy five-door version does well after it goes on sale March 1st, we may see the front-wheel-drive pseudo-'ute make it to market in a few years.

Gallery: Kia Soul'ster Concept

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Kia Soul'ster considered for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: Kia Soul'ster guns for fun and frolic

Alex Nunez — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:50:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Kia

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Kia Soul'ster

The Kia Soul has people talking. Specifically, you. Kia's media presentation here in Detroit highlighted feedback from the Autoblog commentariat. No, we didn't know in advance, but you won't hear us complaining either. However, the star of the show for Kia wasn't the Soul -- it's a new concept derived from the boxy people-mover.

After some dancing fanfare involving large placards, the Kia Soul'ster drove onstage. Put simply, it's cool. The two-door design study looks like a pickup from the side, but the "cab" is open-air, much like the old Isuzu Amigo. Pretty much everything on the car is manual: the gearbox, the window cranks, and the two-piece canvas roof. Other details set it apart from its wagonoid brother, such as a slightly chopped roofline and dual exhausts with carbon fiber sleeves. The roof lamps integrated into the roll bars are a nice touch, too. Cantilevered seats mounted off the center console free up storage room beneath them, and there's a small cargo space aft of the second row. The Soul'ster's meant to be an economical four-cylinder, tarmac-only, front-wheel-drive plaything whose primary mission is fun. It sure looks the part, so now the ball's in Kia's court. Do they have the stones to actually follow through and build something like this? Tell them what you think below. One thng's certain: they'll be reading.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Kia Soul'ster Live

Gallery: Kia Soul'ster Concept

Detroit 2009: Kia Soul'ster guns for fun and frolic originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cabrio Pickup Leisure Car! First Kia Soulster photo, info leaked

Alex Nunez — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:48:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Kia

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]

Cabrio Pickup Leisure Car! First Kia Soulster photo, info leaked originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: Kia Soulster

Chris Shunk — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:33:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Crossover, Kia

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Kia Soulster

Our initial guess that Kia would bring a Soul coupe to next week's Detroit Auto Show seems to be holding up with the release of a new teaser bearing the name "Soulster." Naturally, the two-door Soul will keep its boxy profile, with a redesigned hatch that incorporates blacked-out pillars into the tinted windows of the greenhouse. Unfortunately, that means that a Soulamino is out, but we see how well that worked for GM.

Detroit Preview: Kia Soulster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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