Kia Soul’ster concept
Bringing a sunny beach feeling into Cobo Center on a cold day in January, Kia Motors America (KMA) arrives at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit with the Soul’ster open-air concept, a variation of the highly anticipated Soul, arriving at Kia Motors retailers this spring.
With young buyers’ budgets in mind, the Soul’ster is an efficient front-drive car based on the production model Soul, recently introduced at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
“Soul’ster delivers something new, intriguing and relevant to today’s buyers – a fun, affordable convertible for active people who like to share good times with friends,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, KMA. “Defying categorization and providing utility and practicality, the Soul’ster exhibits distinctive design cues and satisfies multiple consumer needs.”
A two-door concept with roadster roots, the brightly colored Soul’r yellow Soul’ster projects a hip industrial look with screw borders, reminiscent of a rivet design found on a fighter jet.
The windshield is shortened for a sportier and hunkered down appearance. A two-piece top enables passengers to expose the front and back seating areas independently, using elbow-grease technology. The roll bar serves a dual purpose and includes a place for the slider tracks, while providing protection not found in traditional convertibles.
Click image to enlarge!
With a unique face, Soul’ster has a tough but refined character. The toughness is expressed through details like the anodized skid-pad insert, which matches the fender vents, roll bar header and wheels.
Soul’ster’s attitude incorporates lighting that shines through with an amber glow under the headlamps. The side vents, side-mirror turn signals, unique LED headlamps, fog and tail lamps incorporate blue shades.
The energetic, distinctive look carries from front to rear with dual chrome exhaust and polished aluminum exhaust tips featuring carbon-fiber interior sleeves. The large 19-inch, five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels perfect the Soul’ster’s appearance. Regardless of Soul’ster being viewed from front, back or side, it offers innovative perspectives derived from the original Soul.
Once inside, Soul’ster takes even more progressive variations from Soul beginning with the new four-passenger seating design, a diversion from Soul’s five-passenger arrangement, lending spacious versatility for long summer weekends. The surprisingly flexible Soul’ster provides real seating for two in the front with comfortable seating for two more adults in the back.
Fold-flat passenger and rear seats combined with ample headroom make this the perfect car for social outings outdoors and on the beach with friends. Making basic features hot, its crank-up windows are a purposefully key interior design element as are the dashboard-integrated audio speakers.
Adding to the edgy design scheme, the non-floor-mounted cantilevered seats project the illusion of being suspended in space when viewed from the side allowing for increased rear legroom. Storage compartments below each of the fold-flat rear seats, offer room for myriad cargo needs. In addition to the spacious cargo area, dual storage compartments also can be found in the rear and underneath the cargo hold area.
All Revved Up
With young buyers in mind, Soul’ster offers an agile, smooth and spirited ride. As with its Soul cousin, Soul’ster’s can be made available with a myriad of engine choices depending upon each market’s needs. A 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, which produces approximately 120 horsepower.
For those looking for a little more power, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is available with either the five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission, producing approximately 140 horsepower. Fuel economy for both engines is estimated at 30 or more miles per gallon. Other markets might choose the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 124 horsepower or a 1.6-liter turbodiesel.
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January 11th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Pretty, but impractical
January 11th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Uhm…….wow. If it is coming this spring….like by June, I have some thinking to do.
January 11th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
It’s a fun car, meant for college kids, who were affected by high oil prices and financial crisis, so they have to replace their sof-top Wranglers for a fuel efficient vehicle which is still capable of showing-off in front of hot college girls…
January 11th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I didn’t see the text saying anything about it’s production Hako. Spring timing release relates to Soul doesn’t it?!
January 11th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
HAKO: check this out!!!!!: http://www.kia-world.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=963
January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am
No himi, I was referring to a comment I read on-line today. A rumor about production for the Soulster this year. Probably based on a car reviewers comments…..he saw no reason the Soulster wouldn’t be produced, and probably sooner than later. He might actually know something, but rumors are probably all there is at the moment.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:05 am
It could be a small niche-hit with some hipsters in the States, dudes.
January 12th, 2009 at 3:32 am
Nice car. the interior looks interesting and I like that steering wheel. What’s with the last 2 paras? it has engine choices??? is it going into production or something?
January 12th, 2009 at 4:23 am
I am particularly impressed with the dashboard with the colour combinations used, and the instrument cluster because of the very symmetrical setup and when it’s switched off all the needles point vertically.
January 12th, 2009 at 5:56 am
I wonder if the guy with the ugly beard designed this?? This is really cool I would buy one these in heart-beat!!!!
January 12th, 2009 at 8:21 am
i’d buy this over a regular soul. no joke. make it.
January 12th, 2009 at 10:15 am
I like it’s exterior design very much, however, interior is disappointing to me. It’s not modern and looks very plastc-fantastic (in my opinion) and thanks God, this is a concept vehicle.
Kia will have to do some hard work with their interiors. They just don’t seem to proggress with the same speed as exterior design evolves. Some competitors such as Ford or Chevy have shown a lot more proggress in this area on the last gen. cars.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Well, after looking at some more detailed pics, I have changed my mind about the interior. It looks quite good now…
January 12th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
The interior appears more rugged than the Soul.
January 12th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
It could just be plasticy, so that it can resist the likes of sand and water, should you take it to the beach???
January 12th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Looks rugged and full of utility but is it? How will a roof rack work on the Soulster?
Will it tow a small trailer? A folding camper?
Great to carry 4 adults in comfort but sport, camping, canoe, and kayak need some space!
January 13th, 2009 at 2:43 am
Lol, If somone could afford a camper to pull I’m sure they can afford somthing besides Soulster. What would the average college student be doing owning a camper and still owe on loans?
January 14th, 2009 at 1:03 am
This is so cool. I want a hard top option or accessory if put into production.
January 14th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
WOW – love it
was looking for something different and found it
Any price range yet, hoping it is not ridiculous
Please inform
January 14th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
This vehicle is hip Kool – not just for young college kids – this olde doll wants one
January 14th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
This is only a concept at the moment and we don’t have any news whether the Soulster is coming to production or not.
But we have pricing for Soul crossover. You might wanna check it out here: http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2008/12/29/base-kia-soul-starts-at-13995/
January 24th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Kia and the Soul’ster made it where Honda and the Element fell short. A removable top. This really makes the car hip and fun. The tailgate with seats in the back ala’ Subaru Brat mean more friends can join the fun. But if the seats are not easily removable it will cut down on the little bit of the utility the Soul’ster could have and will narrow it’s appeal. Hopefully Kia will take a cue from Honda and go with the hose-out interior and have the accessory rack mounts (ski,bike,windsurfer) available. The steering wheel is a little too concept car and if it doesn’t makes it to production I won’t be surprised and I might be a little relieved. Oh and an all-wheel drive version would rock for the truely adventuruss. Build it for the right price and I’ll be there.
January 30th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I wish this would become a production vehicle. I like a Jeep Wrangler but not the price or the 15-19 miles per gallon. I would run to the showroom.
January 30th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
It is “production capable” according to Kia, so all hope is not lost.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Too cute but will this be coming in a 5 speed model and will it also have a option for the automatic windows – the crank can be very incovient if you don’t want to lean over to let the windows up or down.
Cause I was in love with the Amigo and this remindes me of that – but better looking and lighter in weight.