by: adminLa sorpresa para el salón del automóvil de Detroit 2009 de Kia ha sido desvelada antes de tiempo, y esta es la primera foto oficial.
Asentado en el Kia Soul, esta versión de 3 puertas pick-up es si cabe más atractiva, e incorpora detalles muy reveladores como los nuevos faros con entradas de aire en la parte inferior, intermitentes integrados en los retrovisores o barras protectoras en la parte posterior. Se trata de un pequeño crossover pick-up, con la parte trasera al descubierto. Una mezcla entre utilitario, todoterreno, pick-up y monovolumen.
Basado en el Soul, mantiene el frontal con modificaciones que lo hacen más campero (y diseño más propio de prototipo), y en la trasera lleva unas barras de protección que se extienden desde el pilar A formando una especie de carrocería.podemos ver que el Soulster es un vehículo que apunta a un público joven con ganas de divertirse en la playa. Y si bien pensábamos que se podía tratar de una coupe o un roadster, las imágenes revelan que lejos estábamos de acertar.
Kia estará presente en el Auto Show de Detroit con la saga de vehículos híbridos y nuevos modelos como el Forte y el Soul. Precisamente este último será la sensación de la marca, pues un concepto llamado Soulster debutará en exclusiva para el mundo entero. Presumiblemente, será un coupé de este pequeño utilitario.
Parece que Kia está usando la misma estrategia que usó Ford con el Mustang 2010: presentar imágenes oficiales de detalles para dejar el auto en conjunto para el final. Así que probablemente empiece la cuenta regresiva desde ahora. Por ahora, vemos parte de la cola.
El singular nombre, Soulster, podría indicar un convertible de techo duro: Soul + roadster, pero las cuadradas formas del modelo original podrían enredarnos un poco la cabeza con la forma.
Este prototipo ha sido desarrollado a partir de la plataforma del modelo Soul, cuyo estilo nos recuerda a los coches estilo playero, para llevar tablas de surf, al tiempo que a un pick up típico, pero conservando las medidas compactas, y la buena eficiencia de sus pequeños motores.
Kia Motors America (KMA) arrives at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit with the Kia Soulster open-air concept, a variation of the highly anticipated Soul, arriving at Kia Motors retailers this spring. With young buyers’ budgets in mind, the Kia Soulster is an efficient front-drive car based on the production model Kia Soul, recently introduced at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
“Kia Soulster delivers something new, intriguing and relevant to today’s buyers - a fun, affordable convertible for active people who like to share good times with friends,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, KMA. “Defying categorization and providing utility and practicality, the Kia Soulster exhibits distinctive design cues and satisfies multiple consumer needs.”
Stylin’ Soul’r Yellow Design
A two-door concept with roadster roots, the brightly colored Soul’r yellow Soulster projects a hip industrial look with screw borders, reminiscent of a rivet design found on a fighter jet. The windshield is shortened for a sportier and hunkered down appearance. A two-piece top enables passengers to expose the front and back seating areas independently, using elbow-grease technology. The roll bar serves a dual purpose and includes a place for the slider tracks, while providing protection not found in traditional convertibles.
With a unique face, Kia Soulster has a tough but refined character. The toughness is expressed through details like the anodized skid-pad insert, which matches the fender vents, roll bar header and wheels.
Kia Soulster’s attitude incorporates lighting that shines through with an amber glow under the headlamps. The side vents, side-mirror turn signals, unique LED headlamps, fog and tail lamps incorporate blue shades.
The energetic, distinctive look carries from front to rear with dual chrome exhaust and polished aluminum exhaust tips featuring carbon-fiber interior sleeves. The large 19-inch, five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels perfect the Kia Soulster’s appearance. Regardless of Soulster being viewed from front, back or side, it offers innovative perspectives derived from the original Soul.
Inside Out
Once inside, Kia Soulster takes even more progressive variations from Soul beginning with the new four-passenger seating design, a diversion from Soul’s five-passenger arrangement, lending spacious versatility for long summer weekends. The surprisingly flexible Kia Soulster provides real seating for two in the front with comfortable seating for two more adults in the back. Fold-flat passenger and rear seats combined with ample headroom make this the perfect car for social outings outdoors and on the beach with friends. Making basic features hot, its crank-up windows are a purposefully key interior design element as are the dashboard-integrated audio speakers.
Adding to the edgy design scheme, the non-floor-mounted cantilevered seats project the illusion of being suspended in space when viewed from the side allowing for increased rear legroom. Storage compartments below each of the fold-flat rear seats, offer room for myriad cargo needs. In addition to the spacious cargo area, dual storage compartments also can be found in the rear and underneath the cargo hold area.
All Revved Up
With young buyers in mind, Kia Soulster offers an agile, smooth and spirited ride. As with its Soul cousin, Soulster’s can be made available with a myriad of engine choices depending upon each market’s needs. A 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, which produces approximately 120 horsepower. For those looking for a little more power, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is available with either the five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission, producing approximately 140 horsepower. Fuel economy for both engines is estimated at 30 or more miles per gallon. Other markets might choose the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 124 horsepower or a 1.6-liter turbodiesel.
