| Concept car world debut | 2008 Geneva Motor Show | Kia Soul |
Not one, but three new concept cars marked Kia out as one of the more prolific car makers at the
Geneva motor show. All three of its Soul concepts are variations on the same theme and Kia says they will result in one new supermini due to go on sale in the UK next summer.
The three concepts are called Searcher, Diva and Burner, which represent off-road, city chic and hot hatch versions respectively in a bid to cater for all tastes. The Searcher has more ground clearance and chunky bumpers front and rear, while the Diva has gold highlights for its wheels, side rubbing strips and interior.
The Burner sits lower to the ground than the Diva and has twin exhausts and broad 19-inch alloy wheels and tyres. It also has a sporty body kit and gloss graphics that stand out against the matt black paint.
Kia intends the production version of the Soul as a rival for the MINI and
Fiat 500, and it's expected to have a starting price of around £10,000. Engines have yet to be confirmed, but Kia has hinted that a 1.4-litre petrol will be offered with manual and automatic transmissions.
Alisdair Suttie - 5 Mar 2008