Kia at the Paris motor show 2008

By James Foxall

02 October 2008 16:41

Kia is desperate to prove to the world that it has Soul. And it did so in the most obvious way in Paris with – you guessed it – some soul singers. Seven versions of the new urban crossover Soul were then revealed in production guise and a hybrid version made its debut too.

Tell me more about the Soul

Saying Kia’s new Soul supermini will rival the Mini for desirability is a touch extreme. But this is undoubtedly the most adventurous car the Koreans' have ever made. For something so tall it’s definitely stylish. And the high-mounted seats will help with visibility round town. Build quality is good and there’ll be a choice between 126bhp 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines. It’ll also be well equipped with air-con and a radio/CD player with MP3 connectivity.

What else is new on the Kia stand?

This stand is packed with Paris premieres. In its green zone there’s a petrol-electric hybrid Soul, the Ceed ‘Idle Stop&Go’ and a hybrid Ceed too. The firm also had a 100kW fuel cell electric version of its Sportage SUV.

CAR’s verdict: Kia at the Paris motor show 2008

Kia is definitely a company on the up and it knows it. Since Peter Schreyer took over as head of design a couple of years ago, the firm has become imbued with a new confidence. The interesting concept cars it’s been producing recently show its design is on the right track. Now it’s demonstrating the technology side of its machinery is making strides too.

CAR's Kia stand score: 4/5

Kia goes (dark) green

By Jesse Crosse

23 September 2008 11:00

Kia has unveiled a portfolio of new environmental technologies, including a 1.4-litre Ceed with stop-start (due in the UK in 2009), a Ceed hybrid and the latest version of its fuel cell-powered Sportage.

The Korean manufacturer is investing heavily in research and development and will increase its spend on R&D from £2.2 billion this year to £2.6 billion by 2010, combined with a 40 percent increase in manpower at its research centres around the globe.

What is Kia spending on?

The money is being spent on developing downsized, turbocharged engines, efficiency improvements to conventional engines such as friction reduction and the separation of accessories like water pumps from the engine. The electrification of the drivetrain is also seen as a priority together with stop-start, hybrid and fuel-cell powertrains.

New, low-rolling resistance tyres developed with Michelin are expected to shave 4g/km from the CO2 output of cars they are fitted to. We'll see them first on the Ceed ISG (Idle Stop and Go) in 2009.

Just where is all this R&D taking place?

Kia has R&D centres worldwide. 'At our Mabuk R&D centre in Korea, we have 250 people dedicated to environmental technologies alone,' said David Labrosse, manager for product planning in Europe.

Kia's main focus is on meeting the European Commission’s recommended fleet averages for CO2 of 130g/km for 2012. Beyond that, 'pulling the average down far enough for petrol engines alone will be difficult,' said Labrosse. With a further predicted reduction to 95g/km needed by 2020, Labrosse thinks the electrification of powertrains combined with increased diesel development will be essential.

And fuel cells?

Kia’s fuel cell programme, shared with parent company Hyundai, will move to the next phase when the current 80kW fuel cell stack is replaced by a 100kW (134hp) stack. Hydrogen storage tanks will be upped in pressure from 350bar to 700bar giving a range of up to 375 miles.

Kia Soul: more details and photos

By Tim Pollard

02 September 2008 09:37

Kia has issued some more details and photographs of its new tallboy supermini alternative, the Soul. Kia calls the Soul 'a segment-busting urban crossover' model, but we'd pigeonhole it as an intriguing new rival to the likes of the Honda Jazz and Vauxhall Meriva, with a small dose of Mini charm thrown in for good measure.

So what exactly is segment-busting about the Kia Soul?

Is Kia right to label the Soul its value answer to the Mini? We've seen the Soul concept cars in the metal and they are a refreshing take on the city car, blending the higher driving position of the mini-MPV with a chunky stance of a quasi SUV (Kia claims the ground clearance is 45mm higher than a conventional supermini). We even called the Soul a shrunken Qashqai on first acquaintance.

But at the end of the day, don't get too excited by all this marketing hype. The Soul is a five-door hatchback with a high roofline (at 1610mm), a long wheelbase and oodles of personalisation options (for that Mini/Fiat 500 vibe), but there's little to distinguish the Korean-built Soul mechanically.

The first models land in Europe in spring 2009, following an official debut at the 2008 Paris motor show; UK sales start in March 2009. Kia today confirmed that it will be available with 1.6 twin-cam petrol or diesel engines from the Ceed hatchback range, feeding drive through a choice of manual or auto transmissions.












Kia Soul: the engines in detail

Pick either engine choice and you'll bag a 124bhp motor – just delivered in markedly different styles. The diesel will feel the punchier of the two engines, developing a stout 188lb ft of pull from just 2000rpm.

The all-aluminium petrol engine produces an identical power output, but a more limp-wristed 115lb ft of torque. All Souls are front-wheel drive, so that 4x4 flavour is restricted to the styling. European buyers will be denied the 140bhp 2.0-litre model readied for the US market.

Kia Soul: the design chat

Gregory Guillaume, Kia's European chief designer, said: 'The experience of sitting in the Soul is unique. First impressions will make a big impact. Tall doors and high-mounted seats make for easy access and an airy interior, yet the ‘laid-back’ dashboard design, triple dial instrument cluster and thick-rimmed steering wheel create an unusual combination of spaciousness for passengers and cosiness for the driver generating a very special ambience.'

We'll know if he's right at the Paris motor show, kicking off on Thursday 2 October 2008. That's when we'll see the production Soul in the metal for the first time.

Kia at the London motor show 2008

By Gavin Green

23 July 2008 01:32

Expansionist Kia shows no sign of slowing down its forays into the European car market – and the London show provides more evidence of what's to come from the Koreans.

What’s new on Kia's London motor show stand?

Nothing. But the Kia people are proffering photos of the new production Soul, set to make its show debut at Paris in autumn 2008. Also of interest (sort of) are the Kee sports coupe concept and the ex-cee’d cabrio concept (where do they get the daft names?).

CAR’s highlight?

The three Soul concept cars that give a good indication of the production Soul – a Fiesta-sized hatch that looks like an urban SUV. Think smaller Qashqai and you get the picture. It’s a chunky five-door front-drive vehicle that aims to put some emotion into bargain basement Kia brand.

What were they thinking?

The gold trim on the Soul Diva concept – gold door handles, alloys and roof rails. Straight out of a Bahrain shopping mall and perfect with that fake gold Rolex. Fortunately, it won’t be offered for production.

Kia Soul: first pictures

By Ben Pulman

22 May 2008 11:55

Kia’s Soul is here, and looks nearly identical to the trio of concept cars that appeared in Geneva earlier in 2008. The faux-4x4 will be launched at the Paris Motor Show later this year, before going on sale in the UK in March 2009.

Underpinning the Soul is an all-new platform but it will lift engines and transmissions from the Ceed hatch, led by 1.6 petrol and diesel engines. And if the Ceed is anything to go by, the Soul might just be the best Kia yet, with much improved interior quality. Here's hoping.

And what about a picture of this improved interior?

There are no official shots yet but the concepts at Geneva 2008 were 95 percent production-ready. Remove a bit of the concept car bling and you’re looking at a very smart interior (see picture far right).

The Soul is also Kia’s attempt at a specifically youth-orientated product so expect a long list of options like the Mini. However, if Nissan’s faux-4x4 Qashqai is anything to go by the Soul will no doubt end up being quite popular with older buyers, especially as the Kia badge doesn't have enough cachet yet.

Expect prices around £9000, and it will have unusual marketing, we hear. You'll buy a base car and then personalise it with your choice of colours, trims and options (but don't expect Mini-style bills, apparently).

Kia Koup concept

By Liz Turner

20 March 2008 20:58

Kia’s Koup. If you saw this compact coupe concept without its badges and had to guess who made it, there’s no way your first guess would be Kia. Its lines are simple and sporty, not a million miles from a Ford Puma. But it actually looks like our long-term Honda Civic Type-R from the front, and has hints of VW Eos along the flanks.

But however it looks the Kia Koup should be fun. It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre direct-injection engine producing 290bhp and has a tasty torque curve delivering 289lb ft from 2000rpm all the way to 4000rpm.

The interior is deliberately futuristic. Tom Kearns, chief designer of KMA says: ‘Kia strives to appeal to the emotional side of car enthusiasts who seek adventure and want to take a leap into the future with style and advanced technology. The Koup effectively delivers (that).’

Some US commentators thought the exterior design too understated. We’re told it’s close to production (the interior architecture certainly looks it), so go on Kia, make it happen –and bring it to the UK!

Kia Souls and eco Ceed range

By Jonny Smith

07 March 2008 17:29

What's new on Kia's Geneva Motor Show stand?

Proof that the Koreans have come a long way since Prides with 12-inch whitewall tyres. Kia unveiled its new compact weapon with a trio that made Ford’s Fiesta look fairly average – the Soul. The Soul Burner for bad extreme sports blokes, the Diva for glamour girls and the Searcher for urban escapees. We first saw the Soul concept projects in Detroit 2006 and Kia says it will be in UK showrooms within 12 months. The Soul (Seoul?) mates will use an all-new platform but share engines with the Ceed. No bad thing.

Kia’s version of the Volkswagen Blue Motion series was also proudly displayed. Two Eco-Ceed concepts based on the strong five-door Ceed and three-door Proceed 1.6-litre CRDi diesels are designed to enhance the green aspect without looking alien. In other words lower suspension and under-floor trays to achieve more slippery Cd scores, combined with low rolling resistance Michelin 17-inch rubber. With these mods made the Proceeds emissions topple by 17 percent to 104 g/km. You’d think all these second visits to wind tunnels wouldn’t be needed if manufacturer’s spent more time in the first place?

CAR highlight

The Soul Burner’s black 19-inch alloys with red embellishments. They’re making it to production, albeit an inch smaller.

What were they thinking?

The Soul is Kia’s answer to the Scion XB, the boxy down-with-kids car that Toyota really ought to be bringing to Europe. Kia says what we see here is 95 percent production ready and it will be available with a huge options menu for personalisation, a la Mini.

In a nutshell

The Power to Surprise indeed. Kia flogged 1.27 million cars worldwide last year, plus we get cars with a 7-year warranty. The Ceed and its offspring should be ignored at your peril. Apart from the barge-like Opirus, which has the ‘Power to Offend’.

4.5/5

Kia Soul concepts

By Tim Pollard

19 February 2008 15:46

Kia will show a glimpse of its new Soul soft-roader at the Geneva Motor Show on 4 March 2008, previewed in this teaser shot. The Soul is a departure for Kia in the same mould as the Fiat Sedici/Suzuki SX4 soft-roaders. Naturally, Kia says it ‘doesn’t fit into the usual motor industry brackets’, but we’d say they’re deluding themselves. How many more micro niches can manufacturers claim to invent?

Soul - the Kia you can personalise

The Soul concepts at Geneva herald a new era of personalisation for Kia, we’re told. Judging by this tantalising photograph, we’ll soon be seeing Ceeds bearing stick-on flames on their flanks and red-accented alloy wheels. This model is called the Soul Burner and Kia calls it ‘the bad boy’ of the concept trio, boasting a satin black finish and dragon tattoos. Maybe they should try some grey cardigan graphics, too. Still, you can understand why Kia is doing this – it’s keen to shift the perception of the brand from its bland yesteryear roots to its modern accent on high technology and style at affordable prices.

Click the link below to read more about the production Soul models. CAR Online caught them testing in the Californina desert last year and spilled the beans on the upcoming production car. We won’t see the finished car in UK showrooms until the start of 2009.