Kia Soul
Encyclopedia
The Kia Soul is a compact car
designed at Kia
's design center in California
, unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show
, manufactured in South Korea
and marketed globally beginning with model year 2010.
The Soul uses Kia's corporate grille, known as the Tiger Nose, as designed by Kia's design chief, Peter Schreyer
.
The Kia Soul is sold with a six-speaker stereo system that includes a CD player, a USB port and Sirius Satellite Radio
. Additional features available for upgrade include additional speakers, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and Bluetooth for hands-free connectivity.
Custom upgrades include 18" alloy wheels, cruise control, leather wrapped steering wheel, racing stripes, "dragon" and "houndstooth
" graphics, and LED
turn indicators.
For 2011, the Kia Soul gets more conventional pull-out door handles, standard metallic interior trim, redesigned instrument cluster, leather boot shifter, and switchblade style fold-in integrated key and remote.
The 2012 model year brought a more thorough update, with revised exterior and interior styling and new powertrains. The updated 1.6L, now featuring direct injection, makes 138hp/121 lb-ft, the 2.0 makes 160hp/143 lb-ft of torque. The 1.6 now delivers 27mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. The 2.0 returns 26 in the city and 33 on the highway. New features include navigation, UVO infotainment, leather and heated seats and automatic climate control.
The North American version of the Soul is initially available with one of two inline four-cylinder
gasoline engines. The base model is powered by a 1.6 litre unit producing 122 bhp and mated exclusively with a five-speed manual transmission
. Higher trims feature a 2.0 litre unit producing 142 bhp connected to a standard five-speed manual transmission with a four-speed automatic
available as a stand-alone option. A 1.6 litre diesel engine producing 126 bhp and 260 newton metre torque is offered in European models instead of the 2.0 liter gas, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.
(ANCAP), but only on the New Zealand version. Australian versions get 4 out of 5 stars. The Kia Soul awarded 'Top Safety Pick' from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS) in the US.
presented the Soul Flex at the 2010 São Paulo International Auto Show. The Soul Flex is the first Korean flexible-fuel vehicle
capable of running on any blend from E20-E25 gasoline (mandatory Brazilian blend) to E100 (neat ethanol). The new Soul Flex delivers a 44% improvement in fuel efficiency
compared with the existing gasoline model, as well as superior power and torque.
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The design was based on the Kia Mesa concept. It included a 2.0L I4 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability and adaptive cruise control.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2006 North American International Auto Show
in Detroit, Michigan
.
By late 2006, Kia announced it would put the car into production as a 2009 model.
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The Soul Hybrid/Eco-Soul is a concept vehicle with Gamma 1.6L petrol engine, an electric motor rated 15 kW and 105 N·m (77 ft·lbf), continuously variable transmission, ISG (Idle Stop&Go), regenerative braking.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and later at Auto Shanghai
and later at the Canadian International Auto Show.
. The vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 NAIAS.
The production version includes a choice of 1.6L I4 rated 120 hp with 5-speed manual transmission or 2.0L I4 rated 120 hp with 5-speed manual transmission. It will go on sale in 2010.
.
Soul Diva was created as a fashion accessory for a style-conscious young-at-heart woman who regards her car to be as important as her entire outfit. It included white, gold and black colour scheme, full-length tinted glass panoramic roof, glossy black imitation leather using 'quilted' stitching and trimmed to look like sofas, black long-pile 'Pony-hide' carpet.
Soul Burner was described as the 'bad boy' of Soul concepts. It included solid roof panel and no roof rails, 245/40R19 tires, 4 bucket seats, L-shaped day-light LED driving lamps around the outer edges. At the rear, two vertical exhaust pipes are placed at the extremes of the bumper.
Soul Searcher was designed capture the spirit of Korean and Far Eastern culture with a focus on achieving personal inner peace and creating a calm cocoon for the occupants. It included an old leather finish on bonnet, powered folding roof, tailgate panel, dashboard, door panels and steering wheel rim; grey-beige felt floor and seats.
Soul Hamstar Edition Introduced in 2011, features body colored bumpers, rear sport spoiler, black 18" wheels, black fender vents w/side marker repeater, rear bumper applique, matte alloy fuel door, hamstar exterior graphics, black leather seating, heated seats, hamstar edition floor mats, smart key push button starting, automatic climate control, fog lights leather steeering wheel and shift knob.
The vehicles were unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Soul Burner later appeared in 2008 SEMA
auto show.
The vehicle has MSRP
of $17,300US for 5-speed manual, $18,250 for 4-speed automatic.
. The commercials were awarded "Automotive Ad of the Year" at the Nielsen
Automotive Advertising Awards.
Songs featured in the ads include "Do What You Do" by Marz, "Fort Knox" by Goldfish
, "Junkyard" by The Potbelleez
, "Colours" by Calvin Harris
, "The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)
" by Black Sheep
and, during the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards
, "Party Rock Anthem
" by LMFAO
.
In October 2011, the Kia Soul Hamsters were inducted into the Madison Avenue Walk of Fame, advertising industry’s equivalent of Hollywood and Vine. As of 2011, Kia is also the only car manufacturer to be inducted.
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
designed at Kia
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
's design center in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show
2008 Paris Motor Show
The 2008 Paris Motor Show took place from 4 October to 19 October 2008, in Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles.This edition of the Paris Motor Show featured a high number of hybrid and electric vehicles , a tectonic shift that led a New York Times blogger to ask, "Who killed the non-electric cars?".-...
, manufactured in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and marketed globally beginning with model year 2010.
The Soul uses Kia's corporate grille, known as the Tiger Nose, as designed by Kia's design chief, Peter Schreyer
Peter Schreyer
Peter Schreyer is an automobile designer, widely known for his design contributions to the Audi TT and as the Chief Design Officer at Kia Motors ....
.
Features
The interior features two semi-bucket seats in the front. In the rear there are flat-folding seats that can be moved in order to increase storage space.The Kia Soul is sold with a six-speaker stereo system that includes a CD player, a USB port and Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
. Additional features available for upgrade include additional speakers, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and Bluetooth for hands-free connectivity.
Custom upgrades include 18" alloy wheels, cruise control, leather wrapped steering wheel, racing stripes, "dragon" and "houndstooth
Houndstooth
Houndstooth, houndstooth check or hound's tooth , also known as dogstooth, dogtooth or dog's tooth, is a duotone textile pattern characterized by broken checks or abstract four-pointed shapes, often in black and white, although other colours are used...
" graphics, and LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
turn indicators.
For 2011, the Kia Soul gets more conventional pull-out door handles, standard metallic interior trim, redesigned instrument cluster, leather boot shifter, and switchblade style fold-in integrated key and remote.
The 2012 model year brought a more thorough update, with revised exterior and interior styling and new powertrains. The updated 1.6L, now featuring direct injection, makes 138hp/121 lb-ft, the 2.0 makes 160hp/143 lb-ft of torque. The 1.6 now delivers 27mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. The 2.0 returns 26 in the city and 33 on the highway. New features include navigation, UVO infotainment, leather and heated seats and automatic climate control.
Engine
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
gasoline engines. The base model is powered by a 1.6 litre unit producing 122 bhp and mated exclusively with a five-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. Higher trims feature a 2.0 litre unit producing 142 bhp connected to a standard five-speed manual transmission with a four-speed automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
available as a stand-alone option. A 1.6 litre diesel engine producing 126 bhp and 260 newton metre torque is offered in European models instead of the 2.0 liter gas, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.
Safety
Kia Soul earned Euro NCAP maximum five star safety rating. In 2009, According to Euro NCAP, The five star safety rating places Kia Soul among the safest B-segment family cars in the world. The Soul was awarded the maximum five star safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment ProgramAustralasian New Car Assessment Program
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program is an automobile organisation operated by the governments and motoring organisations of Australia and New Zealand to give consumers coherent results on the protection given by vehicles in front and side impact collisions...
(ANCAP), but only on the New Zealand version. Australian versions get 4 out of 5 stars. The Kia Soul awarded 'Top Safety Pick' from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
(IIHS) in the US.
Flex-fuel
Kia MotorsKia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
presented the Soul Flex at the 2010 São Paulo International Auto Show. The Soul Flex is the first Korean flexible-fuel vehicle
Flexible-fuel vehicle
A flexible-fuel vehicle or dual-fuel vehicle is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel, and both fuels are stored in the same common tank...
capable of running on any blend from E20-E25 gasoline (mandatory Brazilian blend) to E100 (neat ethanol). The new Soul Flex delivers a 44% improvement in fuel efficiency
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
compared with the existing gasoline model, as well as superior power and torque.
Kia Soul concept (2006)
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2006 North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
By late 2006, Kia announced it would put the car into production as a 2009 model.
Kia Soul Hybrid (2008)
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and later at Auto Shanghai
Auto Shanghai
Auto Shanghai is a biennial international automobile show that alternates with the Beijing Auto Show and dates to its inception in 1985...
and later at the Canadian International Auto Show.
Kia Soul'ster Concept (2009)
The Soul'ster is a concept vehicle with two doors and four seats with an open roof over the rear seats. It includes dual chrome exhaust, polished aluminum exhaust tips featuring carbon-fiber interior sleeves, and 19-inch 5-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. It is similar to the Jeep WranglerJeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is a subcompact four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle and an off-road vehicle manufactured by American automaker Chrysler, under its Jeep marque – and now in its fourth generation. It is a successor to the famous World War II 'Jeep' vehicle by way of the Willys civilian...
. The vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 NAIAS.
The production version includes a choice of 1.6L I4 rated 120 hp with 5-speed manual transmission or 2.0L I4 rated 120 hp with 5-speed manual transmission. It will go on sale in 2010.
Kia Soul Burner, Diva, Searcher (2008)
A trio of concept vehicles created by Kia's European design team under the guidance of Kia's Chief Design Officer, Peter SchreyerPeter Schreyer
Peter Schreyer is an automobile designer, widely known for his design contributions to the Audi TT and as the Chief Design Officer at Kia Motors ....
.
Soul Diva was created as a fashion accessory for a style-conscious young-at-heart woman who regards her car to be as important as her entire outfit. It included white, gold and black colour scheme, full-length tinted glass panoramic roof, glossy black imitation leather using 'quilted' stitching and trimmed to look like sofas, black long-pile 'Pony-hide' carpet.
Soul Searcher was designed capture the spirit of Korean and Far Eastern culture with a focus on achieving personal inner peace and creating a calm cocoon for the occupants. It included an old leather finish on bonnet, powered folding roof, tailgate panel, dashboard, door panels and steering wheel rim; grey-beige felt floor and seats.
Soul Hamstar Edition Introduced in 2011, features body colored bumpers, rear sport spoiler, black 18" wheels, black fender vents w/side marker repeater, rear bumper applique, matte alloy fuel door, hamstar exterior graphics, black leather seating, heated seats, hamstar edition floor mats, smart key push button starting, automatic climate control, fog lights leather steeering wheel and shift knob.
The vehicles were unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Soul Burner later appeared in 2008 SEMA
SEMA
Specialty Equipment Market Association of the automobile aftermarket was formed in 1963 by Roy Richter, Ed Iskenderian, Willie Garner, Bob Hedman, John Bartlett, Phil Weiand, Jr., Al Segal, Dean Moon, and Vic Edelbrock, Jr...
auto show.
Kia Soul Denim (2009-)
The Denim is a limited (1200 units) version of 2010 Kia Soul Soul+ for US market. It includes Denim body colour with white racing stripes, white painted side-view mirrors, white 18-inch alloy wheels.The vehicle has MSRP
Suggested retail price
The manufacturer's suggested retail price , list price or recommended retail price of a product is the price which the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell the product. The intention was to help to standardise prices among locations...
of $17,300US for 5-speed manual, $18,250 for 4-speed automatic.
Marketing
"Hamster" commercials
Soon after the vehicle's release, Kia launched a series of commercials as part of their "A new way to roll" campaign. The ads, created by ad agency David&Goliath, features (a combination of motion-captured and costumed) hamsters on stationary Hamster wheels on city streets, which are then all passed by "cooler" hamsters riding in the Kia Soul. The commercials have attracted a cult following and have surged in popularity on video-sharing sites like YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. The commercials were awarded "Automotive Ad of the Year" at the Nielsen
Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre films and newspapers...
Automotive Advertising Awards.
Songs featured in the ads include "Do What You Do" by Marz, "Fort Knox" by Goldfish
Goldfish (band)
Goldfish are an electronica and dance group hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, consisting of Dominic Peters and David Poole. They create dance music containing elements of jazz and African music, combining live instruments like double bass, saxophones, keyboards, flute, and vocals with samplers,...
, "Junkyard" by The Potbelleez
The Potbelleez
The Potbelleez are a four piece Australian House/Electro music group.-Career history:Both DJs/Producers David Greene and Jonny Murphy were born in Dublin, Ireland...
, "Colours" by Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
, "The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)
The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)
The Choice Is Yours is a single featured on the Native Tongues Posse affiliate Black Sheep's debut album, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing....
" by Black Sheep
Black Sheep (hip hop group)
Black Sheep is an alternative hip hop duo from Queens, New York, composed of Andres "Dres" Titus and William "Mista Lawnge" McLean. The duo is from New York but met as teenagers in North Carolina, where both of their families relocated. The group was an affiliate of the Native Tongues, which...
and, during the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards
2011 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards took place on August 28, at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. On July 20, the nominees were announced...
, "Party Rock Anthem
Party Rock Anthem
"Party Rock Anthem" is a song performed by American electro recording duo LMFAO , featuring English singer Lauren Bennett and GoonRock. It was released as the first single from their second album Sorry for Party Rocking in 2011. It interpolates lyrics from Rick Ross' song "Hustlin"...
" by LMFAO
LMFAO (group)
LMFAO is an American electro pop duo consisting of rappers, producers, dancers, and DJs Redfoo and SkyBlu . The group formed in 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Redfoo is SkyBlu's uncle. Redfoo is also the son of music mogul Berry Gordy, SkyBlu a grandson...
.
In October 2011, the Kia Soul Hamsters were inducted into the Madison Avenue Walk of Fame, advertising industry’s equivalent of Hollywood and Vine. As of 2011, Kia is also the only car manufacturer to be inducted.
Kia Aero Soul APRIL System
As an April Fool's Day joke, Kia published a press release on a new environmentally-friendly concept based on the Soul in 2009. The concept used sensors on the bumpers and retractable panels to harness the flow of wind.Reviews and awards
- The Kia Soul earned a red dot design awardRed dot design awardThe Red Dot Design Award is an international product design prize awarded by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany. There are prize categories for product design, design agencies, and design concepts. Since 1955, designers and producers can apply for the prizes with the winners...
in 2009 link - "Interior of the Year Winners" award from WardsAutoWard'sWard's is an organization that has covered the automotive industry for over 80 years. They are responsible for several publications including, Ward's AutoWorld, and Ward's Dealer Business.Ward's also publish the annual list of Ward's 10 Best Engines....
in 2009 link - Popular MechanicsPopular MechanicsPopular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...
comparison - Kia Soul surpassed the Nissan CubeNissan CubeThe Nissan Cube is a Mini MPV produced by Nissan for the Japanese market since 1998, and now sold in export markets such as North America and Europe.-First generation:...
and the Scion xBScion xBThe Scion xB is a vehicle made by Toyota for the United States market and sold under their youth-oriented Scion brand. It is a box-shaped, 5-door compact hatchback.-First generation :...
. link - Fifth GearFifth GearFifth Gear is a motoring television magazine show from the United Kingdom. Originally shown on Channel 5, the show is currently presented by Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Plato, Jonny Smith and Ben Collins...
link - The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
link - WhatCar?What Car?What Car? is a long-running UK monthly automobile magazine and website, currently edited by Steve Fowler and published by Haymarket Motoring. First published in 1973, it is intended primarily as a magazine for consumers rather than dedicated automobile enthusiasts...
link - Kia Soul Named to the Kelley Blue BookKelley Blue BookKelley Blue Book, headquartered in Irvine, California, is the United States' largest automotive vehicle valuation company. The company's website is a source for new and used vehicle pricing and information...
'5 Great Deals' List link - Kia Soul Recognized by Texas Auto Writers Association as 'Best Value' link
- Kia Wins PETAPetaPeta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
's Goody animal-friendly advertising award link - The Soul's residual value after three years was valued at 56 percent of the original value to take the top place in its segment in the Automotive Lease Guide's latest report. It surpassed the Nissan CubeNissan CubeThe Nissan Cube is a Mini MPV produced by Nissan for the Japanese market since 1998, and now sold in export markets such as North America and Europe.-First generation:...
and the Scion xBScion xBThe Scion xB is a vehicle made by Toyota for the United States market and sold under their youth-oriented Scion brand. It is a box-shaped, 5-door compact hatchback.-First generation :...
. link - Kia Soul Recognized on 'Coolest New Cars Under USUnited States dollarThe United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
$18,000' List by Kelley Blue Book's Kbb.com link - Kia Soul’ster awarded 2009 Concept Truck of the Year link
- Named to 'Top 10 Back-to-School Cars' List by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com link
- Kia Soul Named to Time Magazine’s 'Most Exciting Cars of 2010' List link
- Kia Soul Named one of '10 Great And Safe Rides For Teens' by AutoWeek Magazine link
- Kia Soul Given '2010 Automotive Excellence Award' By Popular MechanicsPopular MechanicsPopular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...
link - Kia Soul Named "Best Car 2009" by the ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an daily newspaper La TerceraLa TerceraLa Tercera , formerly known as La Tercera de la Hora , is a daily newspaper published in Santiago, Chile and owned by Copesa. It is El Mercurios closest competitor....
, Kia Motors ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
was also selected as "Best Maker of the Year 2009" in ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. link - Kia Soul Named 'Small Car of the Year' by FAMA Magazine link
- Kia Soul Named 'Best Hatchback of 2010' by Cars.comCars.comCars.com is a website which was launched in June 1998. It is the second largest automotive classified site, second to only Autotrader.com. It is a division of Classified Ventures, which is in turn a joint venture by major media companies including the Gannett Company, the McClatchy Company, the...
link - Edmunds.comEdmunds.comEdmunds.com is a provider of automotive information via Web sites, books, and other media. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California and maintains an office outside of Detroit, Michigan...
names Kia Soul as one of the “Top Recommended” Vehicles for 2010 link