The Motor Report Auto News Blog

Kia Motors Corporation have confirmed that their Kia Soul production model will retain the ‘SOUL’ name as well as the ‘SOUL’ spirit of the original concept debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show.

“Reaction from the media and public to the three SOUL concept cars first unveiled at the Geneva Show in March and shown subsequently at other international events, has been overwhelmingly positive. This reaction, plus the fact that both physically and emotionally the SOUL concept cars are so closely related to the new Kia Soul production car, made it a natural choice to retain this evocative name,” said Mr. Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President and COO, International Business Division, Kia Motors Corporation.

The three concept cars - SOUL Burner, SOUL Diva and SOUL Searcher - were created by Kia’s European design team led by Gregory Guillaume, under the guidance of Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. They were developed from the original SOUL concept car designed jointly by Kia’s California and Korea design studios.

Speaking about the choice of name for the original 2006 Detroit concept car, Tom Kearns, chief designer of Kia Motors America commented, “We wanted to inject some life into this car’s design and give it a soul. And of course ‘Soul’ also is a homophone for the home city of Kia Motors headquarters in Korea, so it’s a fun play on words.”

According to Kia the all new Kia Soul defies classification but its design will encourage customers to build an emotional bond with this rebellious new car. To be made in Korea from September 2008, Kia Soul provides a creative platform for buyers to individualise and match their car to their own personalities.

The new Kia Soul production car will make its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008.