Since driving a Kia Soul around Monterey Bay in August for the concours week, we have a real fondness for this boxy profile. The car is a real joy on the roads – with perky handling and a zingy engine and autobox combo that is far more fun than any econobox in its segment. Lively handling was a huge part of that fun, along with a great road view and headroom to spare.
This 2012 Trackster concept takes care of some of that space with a roof chop, a bump in horsepower up to 250, and a widebody coupe conversion that is right out of a rally car’s dreams.
2012 Kia Trackster Concept
Kia Track’ster unveiled at Chicago Auto Show
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New Track’ster concept car created in the California Design Studio
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Envisaged with a 250 ps gasoline engine
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48,271 Souls delivered to European customers so far, more than 102,000 Souls delivered to US customers last year
Chicago, February 2, 2012 – Kia will unveil its latest concept based on the Soul city car at the Chicago auto show on February 8th.
Powerful and dynamic, Kia’s new concept car displays yet again the distinctive design direction that the Korean manufacturer is taking. Track’ster is intended to be the ultimate performance-inspired representation of Kia’s Soul B- segment SUV.
Kia’s innovative and hugely successful urban crossover, the Soul, was originally created in the California Studio, the birthplace of the Soul’ster convertible concept that is currently under final assessment for production. Soul has been a hit with consumers since launch, with 48,271 delivered to owners in Europe so far and more than 102,000 sold in the US last year.
California studio Chief Designer Tom Kearns and his team have designed the Track’ster concept car in keeping with the Soul’s rebellious, individual and urban character.
Editors’ Notes
Kia Motors Europe
Kia Motors Europe is the European sales, marketing, and service arm of Kia Motors Corporation. With its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, it covers 25 markets in Europe.
About Kia Motors Corporation
Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) – a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart – was founded in 1944 and is Korea’s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. Over 2.5 million Kia vehicles a year are produced in 15 manufacturing and assembly operations in ten countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 172 countries. Kia today has over 47,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of US$39 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Open and an official automotive partner of FIFA – the governing body of the FIFA World Cupâ„¢. Kia Motors Corporation’s brand slogan – “The Power to Surprise” – represents the company’s global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
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