Kia designers reportedly still want Soul'ster built - is there a market for it?
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/trucks/" rel="tag">Truck</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/kia/" rel="tag">Kia</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/kia-soulster-concept/"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/kia-soulster.jpg" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><em><stron g><small>2009 Kia Soul'ster concept - click above for high-res gallery </small></strong></em></div>
<em><strong><small><br />
</small></strong></em> Will they build it or won't they? That's the question <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/01/report-kia-soulster-headed-for-production/">we've all been asking</a> since <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/kia">Kia</a> showed off its funky <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/11/detroit-2009-kia-soulster-guns-for-fun-and-frolic/">Soul'ster concept</a> earlier this year at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/DetroitAutoShow/">Detroit Auto Show</a>. We've been <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/09/kia-soulster-considered-for-production/">hearing</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/01/report-kia-soulster-headed-for-production/">rumblings</a> that there's a solid push from inside the Korean automaker's own ranks to put the little trucklet into production, and it appears that's still the case.<br />
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Speaking to our friends at PickupTrucks.com at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/la-auto-show/">LA Auto Show</a>, Tom Kearns, Kia North America's Chief Designer, said, "Kia's internal design community is firmly behind building the Soul'ster. We'd like to see it happen. There's no official decision to build it but it's still possible."<br />
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The base <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/soul">Kia Soul</a> starts at $13,995, and though we have no idea what Kia might charge the Soul'ster if it were to make it to U.S. dealerships, the open-bed unibody would likely have its own little niche to itself as it figures to be significantly smaller and cheaper than vehicles like the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/ridgeline">Honda Ridgeline</a>. Would it sell? Let us know what you think in 'Comments.'<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-soulster-concept/low/">Kia Soul'ster Concept</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-soulster-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/kiasoulsterpr_1280004_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-soulster-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/kiasoulsterpr_1280003_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-soulster-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/kiasoulsterpr_1280005_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-soulster-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/kiasoulsterpr_1280006_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/kia-soulster-concept/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/kiasoulsterpr_1280007_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/12/kia-designers-push-for-soulster-production.html">PickupTr ucks.com</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/kia-designers-reportedly-still-want-soulster-built-is-there-a/">Kia designers reportedly still want Soul'ster built - is there a market for it?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/12/kia-designers-push-for-soulster-production.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/kia-designers-reportedly-still-want-soulster-built-is-there-a/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19269901/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/kia-designers-reportedly-still-want-soulster-built-is-there-a/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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