2009 Kia Soul Concept

Kia is a Korean company who have done their best to fill in the low-cost and subcompact niche in car markets across the world. While their presence in North America has been somewhat muted, European buyers have embraced the brand. With new financial might from parent-company Hyundai filling the coffers, Kia is attempting to re-make their image as more modern and hip. One of the first vehicles to demonstrate this new design philosophy is the 2009 Kia Soul Concept.

The 2009 Kia Soul Concept is being called a ‘crossover utility vehicle’ by the automaker. Essentially, this is yet another product which is meant to serve several different segments of the market at the same time while avoiding the term SUV, which has become a watchword for excess and poor fuel economy. The appearance of the Soul Concept is brawny and futuristic, with a standup front end that melts back into heavily accented fender flares and a sporting, raked windshield. The greenhouse of the vehicle seems to narrow towards the back. with both the belt line and roof sloping gently to meet each other before ending just before the flat rear hatch. The headlight treatment on the Soul Concept almost resembles an updated Renault 5, but the angle of the lights and the integration of the grille give a fresh interpretation of the visual idea. The rear quarter panels rise up all the way to the roof, and the taillights wrap slightly around the panels’ curve. The roof is made of glass, and the front sunroof opens in such a way that stacks the glass, keeping the rear passenger’s view of the sky unobstructed. This may interfere with the integrated roof racks, but Kia is clearly betting on drivers exercising the necessary judgment when utilizing both features.

The Kia is a hard top of sorts, in the sense that there is no B-pillar between the front and rear doors. Further exoticness can be found in the rear doors themselves, which are hinged at the back and open up in the traditional ‘suicide’ fashion – although Kia has rather diplomatically decided to refer to this feature as ‘freestyle’ doors. The rear hatch can be opened and closed by remote control, and it contains a special storage pouch which Kia claims is to be used for wet or messy items.

The interior of the 2009 Kia Soul Concept is typical of most concept cars – a high-end audio system dominates the dashboard and a multimedia system is installed that is able to integrate laptops as well as accommodate them on special swing-out trays. 5-passenger seating is provided by front buckets and a rear folding bench. Underneath the hood, Kia has provided few details, stating only that the vehicle will be powered by a 4-cylinder engine and that it will of course be front-wheel drive. Strangely, an automatic transmission seems to be the only option, which is unusual for cars in this class. Kia is not particularly known for their performance cars, but it is likely that the Soul will have around 100 horsepower on tap.

With the success of boxy vehicles such as the Honda Fit and the Scion xB, it is clear that there is a growing market in North America for unusual-looking, economy-oriented hatches. The 2009 Kia Soul Concept certainly holds its own appearance-wise beside these more established competitors, but Kia does not have the same reputation that the other automakers have forged after decades of winning the hearts and minds of consumers. Fortunately, buyers at this end of the spectrum are more inclined to make purchasing decisions based on price rather than cachet, so as long as Kia continues to sell their vehicles at the bargain level, they should have no trouble filling driver’s seats.






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July 7, 2008, 9:14 am