Video: New Kia Forte Sedan & Soul Crossover Caught on Film

It’s not everyday that you see two future models travelling together on a public road without a trace of camouflage. We’re talking about the Kia Forte and Soul that were captured on film somewhere in Korea. As a reminder, the Soul Crossover will make its debut at the Paris Show this fall with sales set to begin in Europe in February 2009 and the US and other international markets in April 2009. As for the Forte that will replace the Spectra / Cerato in Kia’s range, the compact sedan will be available from mid-2009. -Video after the jump

Kia Soul: New Photos in Vanilla Shake Color

In addition to a set of pictures that were released earlier this month, Kia has now revealed three more photos of its forthcoming Soul crossover, this time in a color that the Koreans call “Vanilla Shake”. The new subcompact crossover will make its worldwide debut at the Paris Auto Show in October with European sales beginning in February 2009. According to Kia, the USA and remaining overseas markets will follow in April 2009. -Photos after the jump

2009 Kia Soul: New Images and Details on Engine Range

Kia has released further details and new images of its new subcompact crossover prior to the vehicle’s global debut that’s set to take place in Paris on October 2, 2008. Scheduled to go on sale in Europe during February 2009, with the USA and remaining overseas markets following in April 2009, the Soul will be marketed with a choice of three engines, the most powerful being a 2.0-liter gasoline unit.

A smaller capacity 1.6-litre gasoline engine will be offered in most countries, alongside a 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine featuring a VGT (variable geometry turbocharger). Kia says that both 1.6-liter engines are based on the same units used in the European market Cee’d, meaning that the gasoline engine should deliver around 122Hp and the diesel approximately 115Hp. -Continued

The Soul that will be available exclusively as a five-door hatchback with front-wheel drive, has an overall length of 4,105 mm (161-in.), and a 2,550 mm (100.4-in.) wheelbase. Height is at 1,610 mm (64-in.) and width at 1,785mm (70.3-in.) (excluding door mirrors), meaning that overall, the Soul is a tad smaller than the Scion xB or for European buyers, its roughly the same size as the Nissan Note.

Kia Soul Crossover in Factory Guise

Caught here undisguised on Kia’s assembly line in Korea, the Soul is a subcompact crossover (something like a Scion xB but a lot prettier) that will be offered with a variety of 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines –the latter only in Europe. The Soul is scheduled to make its debut at the forthcoming Paris Auto Show in October with sales beginning on both sides of the Atlantic in early 2009.

Pic via: Soul Mania

Kia Soul Makes First Public Appearance at Vans Warped Tour

Kia is offering U.S. customers their first opportunity to see the new Soul up close before the production vehicle makes its world debut later this year at the Paris Motor Show, as a lightly camouflaged version of the compact crossover will take part at the 2008 Vans Warped Tour.

As part of the promo, during each stop of the tour those interested will have the chance to visit the Kia "Soul Lounge," an interactive tent featuring information displays about the new crossover and other Kia vehicles, a DJ, an airbrush tattoo artist and the chance to enter to win either a new Sportage or Spectra SX in the "Keys to the Ride" sweepstakes.

Kia Soul Production Version Revealed

As well as confirming that the production version of the Soul will retain the same name as the concept, Kia has released the first official photograph of its compact 5-door crossover that will be officially revealed at the Paris Motor Show this fall. The Soul was first seen as a concept at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit while this past March, Kia revealed a trio of concept developments at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.

Kia hasn’t released any details on the crossover’s mechanics, but expect it be offered with a variety of small 4-cylinder petrol and in Europe, diesel engines. Production of the Scion-esque Soul will begin in Korea in September 2008 with sales in Europe, the U.S. and other markets expected to start from early 2009.

Kia Soul: Production Version Spy Shots... and Photoshops

About a fortnight after the pre-production Kia Soul made its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, a new set of images, allegedly featuring the production version of the compact crossover, made their way into a site called Kia-World. To be precise, the site has three spy shots of the actual production model accompanied by two photoshoped pictures. There's no doubt that the white Soul is nothing more than a so-and-so photoshoped version of the Geneva Show prototype -look at the tire treads for example. As for the spy shots, they allow us to see the final design of the head-and-tail lamps and a first glimpse of the interior. -Thanks for the tip Dino!

Via: Autoblog.com , Source: Kia-World

Geneva: Kia Soul Crossover Concepts – Production Version Coming in October

Kia displayed three SOUL Concepts dubbed, Diva, Burner and Searcher at its Geneva Motor Show booth today. The trio of concept cars are closely related to the SOUL production car which will make its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October this year. All three concepts were created by Kia's European design team under the guidance of Kia's Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer.

"For Geneva, the Kia design team simultaneously developed three concepts with very different executions to hint at the 'world of possibilities' open to future customers. SOUL Diva, SOUL Burner and SOUL Searcher were envisaged as three equal co-stars at Geneva, members of a team going through an urban adventure together," declared Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer Kia Motors Europe. -Continued

Press Release

Kia SOUL Diva
The Kia SOUL Diva has been created as a fashion accessory for a style-conscious young-at-heart woman who regards her car to be as important as her entire outfit. SOUL Diva is like a supermodel with an aura of glamour, a bit flashy but playful and fun!

Inside, SOUL Diva presents a black, white and gold world of leather and glitter - all beautifully and evenly lit by the full-length tinted glass panoramic roof. Turning the cabin into a stylish lounge, the seats are upholstered in glossy black imitation leather using 'quilted' stitching and trimmed to look like sofas. Even the cabin floor presents a tactile treat, with black long-pile 'Pony-hide' carpet that simply begs to be stroked!

Kia SOUL Burner
The Kia SOUL Burner is the 'bad boy' of Kia's three new concept characters, a 'show-off' complete with dragon tattoos. From the outside, it is a mean, totally black beast with sparse flashes of scarlet. The tattoos are black gloss on the black satin paintwork, which shows a large dragon creeping over the bonnet. On the other side, a small dragon climbs up the C-pillar.

The front bumper is equipped with L-shaped day-light LED driving lamps around the outer edges. At the rear, two vertical exhaust pipes are placed at the extremes of the bumper. Inside SOUL Burner, the four individual sports seats and entire cabin trim are divided horizontally. Above the split, everything is finished in a rich matt red, but below all is deep black.

Kia SOUL Searcher
The Kia SOUL Searcher is the concept that provides a haven of tranquility within the urban jungle, a comfort-zone on four wheels. It sets out to capture the spirit of Korean and Far Eastern culture with a focus on achieving personal inner peace and creating a calm cocoon for the occupants. Exuding casual confidence, the colors are muted, the textures are soft and the road presence is discreet.

On the outside, an old but lived-in leather finish is applied to the bonnet, the powered folding roof and tailgate panel, plus the dashboard, door panels and steering wheel rim. Inside, grey-beige felt is used to cover the floor and the seats for an "ambience of comforting domesticity that banishes pandemonium".