Kia Gets a California Soul
New Crossover Utility Vehicle to Join Lineup in 2008
It figures that one of the Korean automakers would finally show some sense of humor, and Kia turns out to be the joker.
Playing off the name of their country’s capital (Seoul), Kia has announced that the Soul crossover utility vehicle (CUV) will join the company’s lineup in late 2008 as a 2009 model. Pictured here is a concept version of the Soul, but the production model is expected to look much the same.
The Soul is another, albeit interesting-looking take on the “cool box on wheels” theme that was pioneered by the Scion xB and Mini Cooper. Soul was is a collaborative effort between Kia’s design studio in California and design studio in Korea… and it definitely shows the California influence.
“The Soul’s aggressive and youthful styling is raising the bar for vehicles in its segment, and we are excited that it will be joining the ever-expanding Kia line-up in 2008,” said Len Hunt, executive vice president and COO of KMA. “The flexibility, function and utility this vehicle provides, as well as its dynamic appearance, further demonstrate Kia’s commitment to producing vehicles that create passion with consumers.”
The architecture of the Soul’s stance is reflective of its sporting and confident character. A wrap-around windshield, muscular wheel flares, stylish front headlamps and a sloped roofline help convey Soul’s athletic appearance, which is geared toward satisfying customers with an active lifestyle. The Soul’s exterior exudes an athletic presence, while several design cues lend a svelte, edgy look indicative of urban attitude.
Atop the sloped roofline is an automatic panoramic sun/moon roof. The front section of the panoramic roof slides backward and fits over of the rear section allowing for open-air driving with unobstructed views for both front and rear passengers. Also up top are roof racks integrated into the Soul’s design with rails for sliding objects forward and backward.
A symmetrical combination headlight design incorporates the headlamps and grille opening in a functional layout, while the front brush guard with integrated fog lamps is functional and helps convey the Soul’s SUV toughness. Side vents add some character while helping to cool the engine compartment.
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