Is Kia going to build the Soulster concept car? That was probably the most frequently asked question at Kia’s stand during the official public days of 2009 Detroit Auto Show. That was when Kia unveiled a briliant-astic Soul based concept car called Soul’ster. “It’s up to you out there!” wrote Mike Thorpey in his exclusive “inside scoop” on the design process of the Kia Soulster concept car a while ago.
Finished in attractive yellow color, the Soulster has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the North American International Auto Show. The two-door concept car has been equipped with canvas top, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED technology equipped head-lamps and some polished chrome to provide the vehicle a rugged yet still refined exterior look.
The Soulster concept has been created to show the the flexibility of the new Soul platform but in my opinion Kia could be having an expansion of successful Soul line-up expansion in plans so Soulser was also developed to test the waters whether there’s enough interest for such a niche vehicle.
According to Kia Motors officials, reception to the Soulster concept has been very, very positive, but the company refused to reveal any information on it’s possible mass production.
Speaking of it’s production, one of the Korean magazines just recently reported that decision on Soulster’s production will soon be made. If the concept gets a green light then we can expect to see a Soul based sub-compact pick-up hitting Kia’s US showrooms already in the second half of 2010!
May 29th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I’m crossing my fingers the Soulster gets the green light! Bring it Kia…we want it.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
C’mon KIA!! I would love to see this in production. We had one of the Kia newsletters with a photo of it on our front counter at the dealership. We got a LOT of comments on it. Fingers crossed everyone!
May 29th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Let it go into production. Look how the Soul itself is selling.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Oh YEAH and keep the Soulster name don’t go to numbers. Kia sucks at it.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
on ne ses pas ou les gens prennent l’information mais ils viennent en concession pour nous demander quand sa va arriver aller y produiser la !!!
May 29th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Hop it finds it’s way into production as soon as possible. Just stuff the “thing” with a new 2.0L Theta engine and a bit better automatic transmission (5 or six speed) and you have a winner.
May 30th, 2009 at 2:27 am
A Yellow soul would be a cool color..
May 30th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Have you guys seen the 2010 Borrego? There is absolutely no difference except Kia put in two tabs for their signature tiger nosed shape. I’ll get you guys a photo, then post it in the forums. Wouldn’t it be exciting if the Soulster came to production? Maybe drop the 2.4 and AWD in it. The Rondo with a 2.4 will haul itself and a nearly a 3,000 pound payload, and it does it pretty damn well. The 2.4, 6 speed, and AWD would make an excellent modern powertrain for the Soulster. Give it a 3,500 lb towing capacity, and it would sell like hotcakes.
May 30th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Kia should make it BOF, and it would make the perfect little truck. 2.0 and RWD and 2.4 and real 4WD would be awesome!
May 30th, 2009 at 10:02 am
KIA should make this in 3 Variants
1. Cheap $12,000 one with a 2.0 or 1.6 Turbo that gets 30 MPG +
2. AWD with 2.4 or the 2.0 Genesis Turbo (For those who want MPG and AWD)
3. Old Fashioned RWD truck
I might Actually buy one, if I have the money. The Next Gen Accent comes first in my spending. Ill probably wait to get a SOUL’ster used and the value drops to about $8000, so I can get a steal.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:03 am
The Cheap one will be FWD like the 4 door.
May 30th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
If made all it needs is the new 156hp 2.0 Theta and AWD. Also it would need to be raised a few inches for ground clearance.
May 30th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
wont it just cost more for kia to start with a new platform and new drivetrain? if true, then i guess kia will make it FWD like the original soul. although it wud be more apealing to have those options mentioned above. :/ . i really wud prefer all tht if Kia cud offer it,,,
May 30th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Bring this pup on Kia. If they made it BOF with the possibility to tow 3,500 lbs. this thing would sell well. And if I bought one I’d buy a yellow one, no doubts abouts it.
May 31st, 2009 at 12:15 am
This will definitely be interesting if Kia decides to launch it…
May 31st, 2009 at 2:41 am
You guys must have no idea how much it cost to design and develop a vehicle that can be used safely in real onroad conditions. It’s ok to knock up these concept cars, any body shop can do it, but to get an actual vehicle from concept to the actual vehicle on the road, takes years. So unless they’ve (Kia) actually got this vehicle on the drawing board, don’t hold you’re breath, let alone some of the whaky ideas some of you have for it. It’s definitely just a show vehicle, to use it for carry any load at all is a joke, you’d be lucky to fit your bicycle in the back. Sorry guys, but thats my thoughts on the Soulster. Maybe an electric version to carry parcels around town might be a good idea for it.
May 31st, 2009 at 5:49 am
ozy is 100% correct. It takes alot of engineering to get something on the road. Then it has to survive the crash test. Then marketing has to see if it is viable/sellable.. The seats that in the photo’s do not have air bags, and there is no side air curtains.. This would have to be completely redesigned to make it meet the standards today..
May 31st, 2009 at 10:18 am
I can Imagine it like those old school Suzuki Samurais just bigger and more useful. Greg and Ozy, of course they are going to cover the back up. They might have a little truck bed back there with access to the sheet metal covered cabin from the bed. Maybe the Sheet meal portion might have a small door, or lifts up like a trunk. I also think those A rails will stay on the back as well.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:20 am
I think KIA can design test and start producton on that, and do so within 6-9 months. If they havent at least already got to the testing stage. I know Kia is going to have a 3 door Soul as well.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
the sould doesn’t come any other way than FWD. this MAY offer AWD as option but not sure. either way, build it. its amazing.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:02 am
Looks nice, but I don’t think it will make it into production (neither did the exCee’d by the way). And as for the option of RWD or AWD that would really be useless and silly.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:13 am
the exceed had no roof at all meaning no support for the body. the soulster has the A-beam to hold things in place.
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Yeah, but the ex_cee’d was never made because of cost reasons.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:56 am
Its going into production, but in What form? Only time will tell.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:59 am
Its comfirmed its going on production, it was just a rumor a few months ago, but its confirmed. Ill wait to get mines used, the Accent Hybrid for 2011 comes first in my spending.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:28 pm
That’s good. So like next year we should see spy shots. I kinda missed them but hey every year some Kia is in spy shots.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:39 am
jtz, hopefully sooner. I want to see this thing test in the snow, as the FWD system will run in the snow better than a RWD, and here up North, RWD is rubbish for snow driving. Since KIA markets this as an SX4 competitor, I bet KIA has an AWD system on the drwaing board, as the SX4 has optional AWD.
June 11th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
je la veux a qd en france dépechez vous c toute a fait cette voiture qu’il me faut et si en plus ils font une version 4×4 le reve
August 27th, 2009 at 2:59 am
i love it ill trade in my 2008 xb for the soulster in a flash. i love the back opening like a truck bed, cant wait sign me up, this is why american cars are behind go soulster.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Im getting antsy!
February 15th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Hope to be the first in Kentucky to have one… Just what I have been looking for
March 11th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
cant wiat to see un person looks hot when are they avail here
March 28th, 2010 at 3:53 am
March 25, 2010. Does anybody know if this is going into production or not? I have been prying Kia on the phone and they won’t comment, so I went ahead and bought a 2010 Ignition Orange Soul Limited, but I would gladly trade it in for one of these. Please email me if you know anything. Thanks -
May 26th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Would love to see this go into production, especially if they do make a few different variations and one of them have 4WD. I would wait and buy a vehicle tell it came out.
May 26th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Now that Kia has stopped producing the Rondo, it is very likely that the Soul’ster will see production soon.
May 27th, 2010 at 2:43 am
Been looking for a small vehicle like this to haul behind RV. Add 4WD and you got a buyer here. Hope it’s on the market soon!!!
May 31st, 2010 at 5:06 am
I love this car .. Any news about production ???