Kia Track'ster concept
The Kia Soul, which is currently launching in Europe with market-specific gasoline and diesel engines, is one of the brand's big success stories. In the U.S., its sales numbers lead those of subcompact crossover/wagon competitors such as the Nissan Juke, Mini Countryman, and Fiat 500L by a considerable margin. Years ago, similar concepts floated around at GM; Kia, however, brought the Soul to market, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Kia Soul remains a five-door wagon of boxy and upright appearance, although its edges were softened considerably in the model's 2014 overhaul. Now we hear that the Soul's popularity has Kia seriously considering derivatives. Insiders have told us that a two-door version, such as the 2012 Track'ster concept, could be an addition to the lineup. The Track'ster's powertrain, which includes a 250-hp, turbocharged four, is another possibility: "The engine would fit under the hood of the Soul," we are told by one company official in the know. Actually, the horsepower infusion is a great idea, even if Kia decides not to do a Soul-based coupe.
- Instrumented Test: 2014 Kia Soul 2.0
- Auto Shows: Kia Track'ster Concept
- Comparison test: 2014 Fiat 500L vs. 2014 Kia Soul
It's fun to speculate further: Could Kia do a funky convertible, such as the 2009 Soul'ster concept? Anything is possible, and it seems a wasted opportunity to confine the Soul to a single body style. It is, after all, Kia's second-best-selling model in the U.S. And for that reason, Kia's U.S. brass will likely have a big say in any decision to green-light a Soul derivative.
from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/nSHy27
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