Summit Place Kia Blog

Kia Motors unveils its first concept vehicle since introducing the production version of the Kia Soul.

The Soul’ster Concept

As most of you know by now, the Detroit Auto Show is in full swing at downtown Detroit’s Cobo Hall even as this article is being written. Kia Motors America is taking a big part in the festivities and for the Korean automaker it all began last Sunday when Tom Loveless, vice president of sales in the U.S, introduced Kia’s latest concept vehicle to the world: the Soul’ster. Summit Place Kia was also down at the show and this is what we found out:

Let the sunshine in

Based on the production version of the Kia Soul that will be available in U.S. dealer showrooms this spring, the Soul’ster is a “dramatic variation” – a two-door, four-seat, open-air design – that Tom Kearns, Kia of America’s chief designer, said “we had to try.”

Kearns describes the vehicle as a “category-buster” because the Soul’ster is neither a truck nor an off-road vehicle. And while some might call it a convertible, it’s really much more than that.

Safe and secure

Unlike most off-road vehicles, the Soul’ster is front-wheel drive, not all-wheel-drive. And while it sports an open-air design, this concept has significantly more head protection in accidents than a convertible: its roll-bar structure extends over the rear seats and also serves as a frame for a canvas cover.

Basically Cool

Kearns was quick to point out that many aspects of the Soul’ster are designed to appeal to the youth market and “make basic cool again.” This “get back to the basics” philosophy means that the canvas top must be put manually onto its support frame. It also extends to the manual window cranks – no electricity there, either. “We made them into a design feature,” Kearns explained, “rather than hide them.”

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