The highly acclaimed open-air Soulster concept car, which has been unveiled to the public by Kia Motors America during the 2009 North American International Auto Show, has received the 2009 Concept Truck of the Year award!
The North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards awarded concept cars in four different categories: Concept Cars, Concept Truck, Specialty Concept Vehicle and Production Preview Vehicle. This year, a jury of automotive journos selected the concept car winners from 23 concept vehicles and 11 production preview vehicles that debuted during the 2009 North American Auto Show season.
Honored for its beach-ready prowess and attractive design, the Soulster has been awarded the 2009 Concept Truck of the year, making it the first concept car produced by Kia that received the highly coveted Concept Vehicle of the Year Award.
“It is an honor for the Soulster to be named Concept Truck of the Year, and further proof that Kia’s global commitment to design is dramatically altering the brand’s image and consumer’s opinion of our company and our vehicles.” told Tom Kearns, chief designer, Kia Design Center America in the official statement.
In the Concept Car category the award was given to Volkswagen’s BlueSport Roadster, while Cadillac Converj and Karma Sunset concepts took awards in the Specialty Concept Vehicle and Production Preview Vehicle categories.
About Kia Soulster concept
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.
Regardless of Soul’ster being viewed from front, back or side, it offers innovative perspectives derived from the original Soul. 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.
Once inside, 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. [Source: Kia Motors America, Photo: Jalopnik]
June 24th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I heard Kia was planning to produce a pickup truck but was canceled because of tough competition and small market in the segment but I think if it comes up with a hybrid, I mean the FIRST PICKUP TRUCK HYBRID it will be successful. Since they were able to produce the Mohave/Borrego I don’t see why they can’t succeed.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Now I see no reason for Kia to produce this.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Whoops! I mean I see no reason for Kia NOT to produce this!!
June 24th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
i don’t mind this too much
if it’s classified as a commerical in this country with the 1.6 diesel it wsould even be cheaper
June 24th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
who knows if Kia will make a hybrid TRUCK now? their mohave/Borrego isn’t doing so well anyway… they can go for hybrid soul or forte. anyway, I’m with Greg, Kia has to produce the soulster
June 24th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
hello kia-world family. this is off-topic to the thread but i just wanted to say that due to being involved in a [$6 in damage] car accident, I’ve gotten a new car. A lady ran a light taking the front end nearly off of my 2006 Dodge Neon R/T. I’ve been planning on waiting for the Koup to come out but obviously needing a car fast, I didn’t have a choice. I bought a 2009 Kia Spectra SX! i love it! My mom liked my car so much, i went back with her the next day and she bought a 2009 Kia Sportage EX! Mine’s silver with the Black & gray interior, upgraded kia sound system (which i’ve already had 2 10″ subs installed), and limo tint. Mom’s is white with chocolate leather & nav. NICE. neither of our cars have more than 300 miles on the odo but we both love them very much!
Ps – i even told my salesman i planned on buying the Koup sometime in the next spring.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
To Joshy First, I ‘m glad your ok. 2nd if it was for that accident, your mother would have never gotten a Sportage sometimes things happen for a reason
I’m guessing the production model is in the wind tunnel and we should see it on spy shots late 2009. it shouldn’t take that long since it’s based off the Soul and all just with a bed at the back. But to give this more spunk, I wish it could have 4WD though. But that would cost to much to build a platform to handle 4WD.
June 25th, 2009 at 4:40 am
Yep, adding 4WD would up the cost ante too much I’m afraid. No 4WD and no AWD, oh, we’ll be all right. It looks outrageous, though, awesome even. Build it and add it to your ever-growing wonderful worldwide stable of vehicles, Kia!
June 25th, 2009 at 11:47 am
AWD should be at least entertained as an Option Package, considering Hyundai/KIAs contract with Haldex. The Competing Suzuki SX4 B-segment crossover has AWD as an option. Why not the Soul? As a Matter of fact, I hate RWD and the Genesis should have had a AWD option as well.
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Then again, since the next gen Amanti will get AWD first they probably wont put it on the Soul, for a least right now.
June 25th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
the soul’s drivetrain isnt designed to handle AWD. its a modified Rio platform
June 25th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Can’t really see why you would want AWD? It’s not really an off-road vehicle…
June 25th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Glad to hear you’re ok JoshLofty!!
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Well, there are very encouraging news coming from Kia. It is very likely that Soulster is going to be built, thanks to awesome feedback that Kia received about it so far. We shall see soon!
June 25th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I know that Bornloser, but in limited quantities this thing with AWD can be the king of rally cars. Of course AWD would be a limited quantity model anyway.
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The Platform is Current gen Rio, but the drivetrain is next Gen tech. Boris, If KIA was to put an Audi A3 AWD system in there it might work.
June 26th, 2009 at 2:36 am
What evidence do we have that the new Kia Soulster would be the king of rally cars,,,yet? Do we know that much about it’s ability to hold corners, accelerate in to and through them, etc. Just asking.
June 26th, 2009 at 4:16 am
Theres many Soul reviews out there. Where have you been at?
June 26th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Busy with work and other websites. Forgive me in all confidence.
June 26th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Oh Ok Bryan. Motor Trend almost had an Orgasam for this car by the way. The only complaints about this car is the form most auto journalists is the: “Crude 2.0 Engine.”
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“KIA has a potential Halo car on its hands with the SOUL, the fit and finish is excellent. Though, we have a problem with the crude engines available. Also, KIA could have been the leader in the pack if it had a 5 speed Auto available. We hope KIA heeds our suggestions with a refreshed future SOUL model, becuase in a sea of blandness the SOULs funky styling is a breath of fresh air. The KIA Soul should be enough to make Toyota very concerned about their Scion line, and with the changes we have suggested, this car will be the leader in the pack.”
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-MotorTrend
June 26th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Excellent MT review-thanks for putting it in there.
June 27th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
The average person does not care about the engine, looks and fuel mileage..as long as it moves and its pretty or cool..ooohh shiny!!
July 7th, 2009 at 12:21 am
like this vehicle a lot — was hoping that a small truck would come out when toyota made it’s tonkatoy type truck i thought it would be great if they made a mini version of it — so this is the next best thing.
July 31st, 2009 at 8:35 pm
This is great, my husband loves his Rio and has been waiting for KIA to make a truck