2008 Kia Soul Brief

Kia is selling its soul to American car buyers. No surprise there, but it may not be what you think. Sure, the ten-year warranties and standard side curtain airbags Kia's been offering must have come at a steep price – but not steep. No, the Soul the Koreans are selling was announced at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. Last year's concept crossover SUV, shown above, will become a production reality in 2008. Named “Soul” to, presumably, represent the SUV's Korean origin as well as the “collaboration between the home office in Seoul, South Korea, and Irvine, California," the 2008 Kia Soul is "a merging of tastes and design in order to breathe new life into a vehicle design, to, in essence, give a car a soul.”

Why It Matters

Kia's Soul Concept is an enticingly youthful crossover designed to attract young, active people to the Kia brand. It does so by showcasing the kinds of things active people want from their transportation, dressed in a modern, angular, stylish package highlighted by a wrap-around rear window, a wide track, and a sloped roofline. Inside, the Soul Concept is decked out with a completely rockin’ and customizable multimedia/communications system, mood lighting, a configurable cargo area, and a remote-powered liftgate.

Photos by Brian Chee