Following successful debuts at International Motor Shows overseas, Kia has unveiled not just one, but five unique examples of its funky new Soul car.
The Soul marks another design success for Kia Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer - previously responsible for the first generation Audi TT - and demonstrates, along with the new Cerato and the upcoming Sorento, what lies ahead for the re-energised Korean automaker.
Schreyer describes the Soul as a car that challenges buyers to ‘free your mind’, to build an emotional bond with their new car, and to rethink everything they know about Kia.
“Conceived in the USA, developed in Korea and fine-tuned in Europe, the Soul will be a breakthrough vehicle for Kia on its journey to be seen as a design-led company and the maker of distinctive cars which consumers aspire to own,” he said
“Kia Soul is all about creating a car that demonstrates our passion for automotive design, gets Kia talked about the media and the public, and generates an irresistible customer appeal.”
The production-model Soul revealed today is remarkably close to the original concept first revealed in 2006. This is one funky little unit and worth a serious eyeball when you get along to the Show.
Like its siblings the Cerato, the No 3 concept, and the images circulating of the upcoming Sorento replacement, the Soul wears the new Kia corporate grille.
If Kia has its way, the grille is about the only obvious element any two Souls on the road will ever share. With 61 factory and locally fitted options available, that seems a safe bet.
Options will include alloy wheels, unique body kits, audio upgrades, sports or ‘retro chic’ interiors, body accents, as well as a variety of decals for the body.
To demonstrate the diverse possibilities for the Soul, Kia unveiled five uniquely different versions at the Melbourne Motor Show.
• Burner (Black): Go ahead, judge it by its cover!
• Diva (Vanilla): Arrive fashionably ahead of your time.
• Lava (Orange): Blend out. The only thing it lacks is subtlety.
• Mode (White): It’s a blank canvas for your individual personality.
• Searcher (Green Tea): It’ll move you. Even when standing still.
The Kia Soul will be released to the Aussie market in early April 2009, with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, in either manual or automatic transmission guises.
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Price this well ($18k - $22k base price) and Kia will sell these like hotcakes.
They’re larger than I imagined after seeing the pictures, and are quite comfortable inside. Good driving position and rear passengers are not left wanting.
The Soul looks fantastic, and the customisable designs are sure to be a winner, from the girly “Diva” with the houndstooth print, through to the masculine black model with grey decals down the side, and a red rim on the intake vent.
There’s even room under the bonnet for a blower. This is what the PT Cruiser tried to do and failed, Kia could be onto a real winner here, especially if they use these design principles on their full range of cars.
$18k+ is to expensive.
Wants/NEEDS to be from $15k
In USA it kicks off at EXACTLY the same RRP as a Rio Hatch
I think it’ll be priced around the same price as the cerato is australia.. Won’t it be using the same 2L engine? I think there is no chance in hell of it being the same price as the rio here in aus.
No 2.0 petrol for Oz i’m afraid….only 1.6..!!
Iam off tomorrow to have a look at one…!!