It seems like just yesterday that we brought you pictures of Kia's concept car, the Soul. And it actually was just yesterday that commenter Russell noted that Kia doesn't have an "it" car. What a difference a day makes. Kia [via www.kia-buzz.com] has revealed the official production version of its newest compact hatch, the Soul. It's meant to compete in the smaller segments of the car population– although whether it's a B-segment car (Honda Fit/Jazz, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta) or a city car (Fiat Panda) remains to be seen. What we do know: it retains most of the concept car's somewhat distinctive styling, and that Kia will do the reveal thing at the Paris Auto Show [RF: you are sending me, right?] in October. Considering Kia's optimistic goal of doubling non-Korean sales by 2010, you can bet your Rio that the Soul train's coming to North America as fast as they can crank 'em out.
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You go to Paris Justin, and I’ll meet you there.
BTW, the Mitsubishi Charisma had none, the Smart is not, and the Soul? Reviewers will have to decide whether to be inspired by a certain album of the Beatles, or by a book written by Jakov Lind, or by that nasty thing that Eldridge Cleaver penned.
Soul or Seoul? Who cares. I see a lot of Kias and Hyundais around these days. They are cheap, they work. They are ugly, but so what? They are cheap, they work.
somewhat distinctive styling? looks like a scion XB to me.
Most car companies need to fight Toyota and Honda head-on like how TTAC is fighting Cialis induced auto journalism.
I never understood why Mazda 6 and Old Altima were designed to compete with Camry light with anorexic engines and sizes that are equivalent to charming houses for sale with a leather swing set in San Francisco. Look at what happened to Altima, now. It went head on with Toyonda, and Altima competes wells. It’s about time for some car companies to go head to head with Scion. I think mini station wagon/SUV cars are all the rage like the road rage is all the rage in cities with expensive non-traffic reducing public transportation system.
Kia really has nothing to lose here. This car looks great! It has great power plant and style. I think this is a winner. I am sure Soul will have a good price. I am excited about this car. I just hope this car is very well buttoned down. I wonder whether Kia can bring turbo charged 200hp powerplant. Can Kia get me a Hot Pocket Soul?
BTW. Seoul means “capital city.” Seoul and Soul do not sound the same and do not have same meaning in Korean. Most Koreans will not relate Soul to Seoul.
Probably the most interesting Kia ever made…
With the way the Yaris is priced and the Fit marketed, they are going to have to pull off some substantial feature and price advantages to pull this off.
This one may be more appealing than the current Scion. But Kia is going to have to start winning some quality measurements if they’re ever going to be seen as anything other than a second-tier brand.
OMIGOD
Forget about the Soul, everybody needs to go to kia-buzz.com right now and watch the most disturbing thing I’ve seen in quite a while.
In a new web-only ad for the pro.ceed, stop-motion Rafael Nadal sticks his feet into little children’s asses and scores a goal against an alien (after having been beaten by the alien in tennis).
Then he turns into a pro.ceed. I’d like to see them try and air that spot in the US, something tells me they’d be chased out of the country by mobs with torches and pitchforks.
kazoomaloo :
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHa
Thanks for the heads up on that ad. I lol’d hard!
(yeah, it probably wouldn’t fare so well on TV here in the US…)
I can just imagine the conversations. I call the Kia dealer and tell them, “my damm soul caught on fire!”
Or, telling my friends that “I sold my soul” or, “traded my soul because my my wife had a Fit.”
@carlos.negros:
Why did Mickey Mouse divorce his wife Minnie Mouse?
Justin, I don’t know. Why?
I see a lot of Kias and Hyundais around these days. They are cheap, they work. They are ugly, but so what? They are cheap, they work.
Hyundais are actually better looking than more than half the cars sold these days. And I don’t like to say that–I’m still quite prejudiced against Korean cars. But it’s true. Kia–no.