SCOOP: Kia Readying a Facelift for the 2012 Soul

It appears that the Soul is the next vehicle in Kia’s list to receive an update. Caught here in testing in Germany by our spy photographers, the bagged-up ends do their job to hide the Soul’s stylistic upgrades with the only visible change being the redesigned exterior mirrors that house the turning lights.

However, it is expected that the Soul will take some cues from the new Picanto and Rio hatchbacks (both of which were revealed at the Geneva Motor Show) such as the pulled back headlamps and more pronounced bumpers. An interior rework may also be in the cards.

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Kia Soul in Police Outfit to Patrol Sussex Streets

A local Kia dealer has donated a 'vanilla-cream' Soul to the Sussex Police department in the UK for use in their neighborhood policing program. While you won't be seeing the Soul chasing law-breakers on the highway, the small crossover will be used by the team of Police Community Support Officer's (PCSOs) as part of their routine street briefings and the general safe-keeping of Horsham South's communities.

"The car is as highly visible as we are!" said PCSO Charlotte Whittaker. "We were delighted to have been given a car by Toll House, but to have one that turns heads as swiftly as this one does only helps us become more visible to the public."

Toll House Kia, which provided the police-branded Soul Shaker to the Sussex Police department for a year, said that it will replace the car after six months.

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More Reader Spy Shots: Kia's Small MPV Snapped in the Czech Republic

Carscoop readers Vladimir Pekulas and Jan Mlejnek bagged these shots of Kia's forthcoming mini-MPV on the highway near Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic. If you take a closer look at the pics after the jump, you'll see that the man sitting in the passenger's seat of the Kia test car retaliated against our readers by taking or pretending to take, photos of them also... But anyways, let's refresh our memory on Kia's new model which has yet to be named.

The five-seater MPV is in effect the production version of Kia's No3 Concept study that was shown for the first time in Geneva earlier this year. The Korean automaker's retort to the likes of the Honda Jazz, Opel Meriva and Citroen C3 Picasso uses the same architecture as the Kia Soul and Hyundai i20.

It is anticipated that the small MPV's engine range will comprise of 1.6-liter petrol and diesel units, both producing an output of 126HP, while certain markets may also receive a 115HP 1.6-liter diesel along with a range-topping 2.0-liter gasoline engine making 142HP.

Kia will most probably swoop the covers off the mini-MPV at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September with European sales set to start before the end of the year. Like the European market Cee'd, the MPV will be produced at the Hyundai Group's new plant in the Czech Republic.

"Děkuji" Vladimir Pekulas & Jan Mlejnek for the pics!

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Kia Soul Does Some Inner Searching with New Special Edition

The Soul Searcher is the latest addition to Kia's Originals line-up, which includes a collection of distinctive versions of the sub-compact crossover. This here special edition is for the UK market and it follows on from the Burner, Shaker, Tempest and Echo. Sales scheduled to start from the 4th January 2011.

The car is cosmetically distinguished by a light green metallic paintwork, and cream and brown full leather interior offset by a two-tone, cream and black dashboard. Furthermore, Kia's designers added chrome front grille and door handles, roof rails, black bezel headlights, front and rear mud flaps as well as 18-inch silver alloy wheels.

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10:46 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Kia Soul Does Some Inner Searching with New Special Edition

The Soul Searcher is the latest addition to Kia's Originals line-up, which includes a collection of distinctive versions of the sub-compact crossover. This here special edition is for the UK market and it follows on from the Burner, Shaker, Tempest and Echo. Sales scheduled to start from the 4th January 2011.

The car is cosmetically distinguished by a light green metallic paintwork, and cream and brown full leather interior offset by a two-tone, cream and black dashboard. Furthermore, Kia's designers added chrome front grille and door handles, roof rails, black bezel headlights, front and rear mud flaps as well as 18-inch silver alloy wheels.

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Kia Takes New Soul White Tiger and Hamstar Concepts to SEMA Show

Kia is represented by a variety of customized models at this week's 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, including this pair of concept versions of the Soul crossover called the "White Tiger" and "Hamstar".

The first concept study, the Soul White Tiger, is actually a teaser to one of two all-new special edition models that the company is planning to launch before the end of the year. Following in the footsteps of the four special edition Souls introduced over the past year, the White Tiger model features some unique styling cues and added content.

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Kia Takes New Soul White Tiger and Hamstar Concepts to SEMA Show

Kia is represented by a variety of customized models at this week's 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, including this pair of concept versions of the Soul crossover called the "White Tiger" and "Hamstar".

The first concept study, the Soul White Tiger, is actually a teaser to one of two all-new special edition models that the company is planning to launch before the end of the year. Following in the footsteps of the four special edition Souls introduced over the past year, the White Tiger model features some unique styling cues and added content.

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Kia Launches Limited Edition Ghost Soul

The fourth and last of the special edition 2010 Souls that Kia launched in the U.S., this year, the new Ghost Soul, is available for order now. This latest iteration complements three other special edition versions, including Ignition Soul, Denim Soul and Shadow Dragon Soul.

As with the previous special edition Souls, the Ghost is based on the Soul+ trim level.

The Ghost package adds metallic and chrome accents, front fender vents with side marker repeater lights, a body kit, moonroof, fog lights, black 18-inch alloy wheels with machined accents, a roof spoiler as well as the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

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Kia Unveils Soul Safety Car for U.S. Touring Car Championship

Following its debut at last year's SEMA motor show in Las Vegas, the Kia Soul Safety Car has made its track debut at the U.S. Touring Car Championship (USTCC) that is sanctioned by the National Auto Sport Association (NASA).

Kia's funk-o-wagon was modified by "GOGOGEAR" and it features upgraded suspension and tires, plus special strobe lights inside the headlamps, taillights and the light bar.

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New Limited Edition Kia Soul Ignition Hits US Showrooms

The second special edition Kia Soul to be offered in the States this year after the "Denim" is the "Ignition". Based on the Soul+ model, the limited run version features a unique ignition orange exterior finish with contrasting black rally stripes, a rear spoiler, an alloy fuel door and black 18-inch alloy wheels with machined accents.

Like the previously launched Denim, on top of the Soul+ standard equipment, Kia has loaded the Ignition with more features including a higher-grade audio system with iPod connection, center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music (...), carpeted floor mats, moon roof, fender vents with side marker repeaters and fog lights.

The new Kia Soul Iginition is available for order with prices starting from $17,500 for the model with a five-speed manual gearbox.

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New Limited Edition Kia Soul Ignition Hits US Showrooms

The second special edition Kia Soul to be offered in the States this year after the "Denim" is the "Ignition". Based on the Soul+ model, the limited run version features a unique ignition orange exterior finish with contrasting black rally stripes, a rear spoiler, an alloy fuel door and black 18-inch alloy wheels with machined accents.

Like the previously launched Denim, on top of the Soul+ standard equipment, Kia has loaded the Ignition with more features including a higher-grade audio system with iPod connection, center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music (...), carpeted floor mats, moon roof, fender vents with side marker repeaters and fog lights.

The new Kia Soul Iginition is available for order with prices starting from $17,500 for the model with a five-speed manual gearbox.

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Kia Tries to Tempt UK Buyers with New Limited Edition Soul Tempest

The beginning of the month sees Kia's UK division launching yet another limited edition version of the Soul, the 'Tempest', which replaces the outgoing 'Samba' model. Part of Kia's Original Collection models, the Tempest comes in a Titanium Silver finish with black high-gloss bumper inserts and door mirrors, and is fitted with specific black 18-inch alloy wheels. As for the interior, the Tempest gets 'Soul-Shine' black seat trim with metallic centre fascia and chrome accents on the dashboard and instrument clusters.

Other key features of the limited edition model include a reversing camera system with electrochromic rearview mirror and an upgraded audio system featuring a dash-top centre speaker, rear sub-woofer and external amplifier.

The Soul Tempest is available with 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines with prices starting from £12,845.

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Kia Tries to Tempt UK Buyers with New Limited Edition Soul Tempest

The beginning of the month sees Kia's UK division launching yet another limited edition version of the Soul, the 'Tempest', which replaces the outgoing 'Samba' model. Part of Kia's Original Collection models, the Tempest comes in a Titanium Silver finish with black high-gloss bumper inserts and door mirrors, and is fitted with specific black 18-inch alloy wheels. As for the interior, the Tempest gets 'Soul-Shine' black seat trim with metallic centre fascia and chrome accents on the dashboard and instrument clusters.

Other key features of the limited edition model include a reversing camera system with electrochromic rearview mirror and an upgraded audio system featuring a dash-top centre speaker, rear sub-woofer and external amplifier.

The Soul Tempest is available with 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines with prices starting from £12,845.

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Kia Soul in Police Outfit to Patrol Sussex Streets

A local Kia dealer has donated a 'vanilla-cream' Soul to the Sussex Police department in the UK for use in their neighborhood policing program. While you won't be seeing the Soul chasing law-breakers on the highway, the small crossover will be used by the team of Police Community Support Officer's (PCSOs) as part of their routine street briefings and the general safe-keeping of Horsham South's communities.

"The car is as highly visible as we are!" said PCSO Charlotte Whittaker. "We were delighted to have been given a car by Toll House, but to have one that turns heads as swiftly as this one does only helps us become more visible to the public."

Toll House Kia, which provided the police-branded Soul Shaker to the Sussex Police department for a year, said that it will replace the car after six months.

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