2009 KIA Soul at MIMS
February 27, 2009 by Matt Brogan
KIA has five different interpretations of its new Soul at MIMS this year in what it refers to as its “Soul Zone”.
The Soul marks a revolution in KIA’s expansion and aims itself at the young, and young-at-heart alike.
Offering a broad selection of styling, comfort and equipment choices, Soul aims to redefine the category and hopes to assist buyers in forming an emotional attachment with their vehicle.
“Conceived in the USA, developed in Korea and fine-tuned in Europe, the Soul will be a breakthrough vehicle for KIA on its journey to be seen as a design-led company and the maker of distinctive cars which consumers aspire to own,” said KIA Motors Corporation’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. “KIA Soul is all about creating a car that demonstrates our passion for automotive design, gets KIA talked about the media and the public, and generates an irresistible customer appeal.”
The Soul also features the trademark KIA ‘corporate grille’, as seen on the new KIA Cerato sedan, and is available with 61 factory and locally fitted options to be the ultimate in ‘customisability’.
Options will include alloy wheels; body-kits; audio upgrades; sports or ‘retro chic’ interiors; body accents and many other options, all designed to give customers almost infinite possibilities to personalise and individualise their own Soul.
When released to the Australian market in early April 2009, the new KIA Soul will be available with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, with manual or automatic transmissions.
Print it: 
I think Soul will have a huge impact on this market. Pitty they did not have pictures of the Soul burner.
Salesman, I agree. I have had some entertaining ‘debates’ with you about the Korean made stuff, but I’m happy to admit I like this design. It could even get slight ‘cult’ status in the ilk of the Mini. Obviously not to the iconic levels of a Mini, but very popular nonetheless.
Of course, as long as it is well made.
HAL,
Kia have designed and named the Soul around that “cult” status. It is fun to drive, and well built. You will be surprised if you get behind the wheel.
There is a dedicated Soul web site you should visit. http://www.kiasoul.com/
I’ve just this second gotten into advertising, and guess what, I came up with a brilliant slogan already.
Ahhh!!! Soul.
There you have it folks, I came up with that one first and posted it here on caradvice. So Kia can send me $50k and half a kilo of cocaine. Not too bad considering I’ve only been in advertising for a few minutes.
Tomorrow I’ll get into car design and give this a much needed makeover.
What an ugly hunk of metal.
I was giving Toyota a jab before because their new camry looked a bit fridge like but Kia have gone and put wheels and windows on my extra freezer cabinet and called it a car.
Stevo, I have an advertising slogan for you:
“Kia Soul. It has a great personality.”
At least it style better than the Scion XB…
Salesman,
take a look at the afternoon gallery. think it’s in there
Thanks David, i will check it out.
interesting car, its such a different shape.
They need to have the “privacy glass” tint for the rondo7 as well.
This is a very well engineered vehicle, it takes over where the Jazz was.
The PRICE will be the sucess to it, in USA its the same coin as a Rio, it needs to start @$15k and they will sell zillions of them once word gets out.
Find of the show i recon
Cheers
F-0
Looks like it came out of the Fisher-Price factory. Maybe if the Korean design students spent more time studying instead of clashing with riot police then they may graduate with a few undamaged brain cells and design a car properly.
I saw one of these last week near Wollongong. Looked pretty nice..