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Kia Releases Rendering of New Soul Concept Car

Stylish New Concept Could Change Young Peoples Perceptions about Kia

Shouldnt it be called the Seoul? Either way, Kias upcoming Soul Concept might just stretch our perceptions of what a compact crossover vehicle should be, sporting a unique chunky appearance not dissimilar to Hondas odd but relatively popular Element, Toyotas the Scion xB and Nissans Japanese-market Cube.

Then again, the Soul appears to have some traditional SUV styling cues thrown in to the mix too, such as rounded wheel arches, wrap-around windshield, wrap-around and over headlight clusters, a curved C-pillar,

Kias upcoming Soul Concept might just stretch our perceptions of what a compact crossover vehicle should be. (Photo: Kia Motors America)

and racy engine air exhaust ducts, which should allow it to be more acceptable to mainstream buyers.

Its boxy rear shape should optimize interior cargo space, thus opening up more room for passengers, who will also benefit from the vehicles tall roofline and reportedly, substantial width.

According to Kia the Soul is larger inside than it appears from the outside, while its cargo area

Its boxy rear shape should optimize interior cargo space, thus opening up more room for passengers, who will also benefit from the vehicles tall roofline and reportedly, substantial width. (Photo: Kia Motors America)

is said to be extremely flexible. The rear liftgate features a "drawer" for wet or muddy items, such as a wetsuit or hiking shoes; a telltale sign of which demographic Kia is shooting for.

Unique to the segment, if produced, would be reverse-hinged rear "suicide" doors, sometimes available on four-door pickup trucks like Nissans Titan and Toyotas Tundra, sports cars such as the Mazda RX-8, and ultra-luxury cars like Rolls-Royces Phantom. The mirror image door handles appear most like those on the Phantom, while the fender vents are similar to those on Suzukis new Grand Vitara and Land Rovers LR3 and Range

Unique to the segment, if produced, would be reverse-hinged rear "suicide" doors. (Photo: Kia Motors America)

Rover Sport. Kia states that the new concept builds on styling details shown with the Mesa concept from last years North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The Soul will make its world debut at the upcoming Detroit auto show, beginning early January, at which time the South Korean automaker, now wholly owned by Hyundai, will gauge show goers reactions before any production announcements.

If it were produced, Kia has a variety of platforms which would be suitable, with the capable Sportage most likely getting the nod due to its good overall structural rigidity, nimble road manners and proven low cost of manufacture.

Critical in this segment is price, the misunderstanding of which has hurt the sales of others who have tried to win over the youth market with products priced out of reach of entry-level wage earners.

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