Kia Soul'ster Inches Closer to Possible Production
There's been plenty of online chatter in the past 24 hours about the Kia Soul'ster concept getting very close to a green light for production.
The Soul'ster debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It's a small-footprint, front-wheel-drive, two-door garden truck derived from Kia's new 2010 Soul, a car-based compact four-door crossover powered by either a 1.6- or 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
We'll keep the oh-so-close-to-production speculation going while (ahem) respectfully pointing out that we first reported Kia has been considering the Soul'ster for production since January, when we had a sit-down interview with Peter Schreyer, Kia's senior executive vice president and chief design officer, and Tom Kearns, the Soul'ster's lead designer.
Schreyer told PickupTrucks.com that Kia would "be very happy if we could build it," depending on attendee and media feedback to the Soul'ster.
And according to Kearns, it wouldn’t take a huge investment if Kia decided to build the small pickup. The full front clip is the same as the Soul, just a little tougher. The wheelbase is identical.
On the legal front, Kia continues its efforts to secure the Soul'ster name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. "Soul'ster" was published for public opposition in mid-April. Perhaps as soon as the name has been federally approved by the USPTO, we'll receive word of its go-ahead to production. The first trucks could roll into showrooms in 2010.
[Source: TheCarConnection]
Comments
Is it a pickup truck or a car? Looks like a car to me.
It's a trucklet.
I say build it, since the Tracker/Vitara stopped being built there has not been a fuel effcient fun alternative to a Jeep Wrangler
@Dan: in Europe we also have the Wrangler CRD (2,8L Diesel) - engine sounds like a tractor, but good adapted to this kind of car...
So this is a small 4-Seater concept. Good alternative to Jeep Wrangler.
Hope it sells well. Kia Soul is selling well.
We need more fun vehicles like this with V4 engine giving good mileage.
I really hope that Kia gets this going. That is perfect for people who want a cheap capable convertible. The jeep wranger eats gas, this wont. The vitara/tracker was too small. The amigo, was one of the most unreliable vehicles out there. This is the perfect combination of fun, reliability, and utility, and I am sure the price will be great too. Please Kia, please please please get this going.... Thank you ...
This is exactly what i have been looking for - i want to buy it right now.
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