Speaking with Automotive News, Kia spokesman Alex Fedorak said the “response was so overwhelming” that the company has decided that it needs to take a closer look. "It is clearly a vehicle that was built as a concept in a fashion that was production-capable. We have been doing that more and more lately."
With young-at-heart buyers’ budgets in mind, the Soul'ster is an economic FWD vehicle that shows the flexibility of the new Soul platform. Along with a brightly colored “Soul’r yellow” paint finish, and a shortened windshield, the concept has a tough but refined character and could easily be marketed as an open-air urban crossover.
Under its bright yellow hood sits a 120hp 1.6L four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Other possibly engine options include a 140hp 2.0L four-cylinder engine or a 124hp 1.6L turbodiesel.
As for the standard Soul hatch, sales will start on March 1 with pricing starting from $13,995 (including a $695 destination charge).