Rumormill: Kia planning Mazda MX-5 fighter, all-wheel-drive Soul
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/kia/" rel="tag">Kia</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/" rel="tag">Rumormill</a></p><a href="http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/265831/kias_mx5_rival_revealed.h tml" target="_blank"><img alt="kia mx-5 close crop" class="right border" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/kia-mx-5-close-crop.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px; float: right; width: 250px; height: 300px;" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/kia/">Kia</a> is seriously considering adding a two-seat droptop along the lines of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/mx-5">Mazda's MX-5</a> to its portfolio. European CEO Paul Philpott has stated that the automaker will expand and enhance its volume offerings during 2011 and 2012, but that a roadster could be in the cards shortly thereafter.<br />
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Philpott is not alone in his desires for a Kia sports car. Paul Schreyer, Kia's Chief Designer, believes that the Korean automaker needs a truly sporty vehicle in the lineup (sorry, <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/forte+koup">Forte Koup</a>).<br />
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UK-based magazine <em>Auto Express</em> has put together a <a href="http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/265831/kias_mx5_rival_revealed.h tml">rendering of such a vehicle</a>, and it clearly draws heavily from the <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/solstice">Pontiac Solstice</a>. However, it should be noted that the idea of a sports car in the lineup is not a totally foreign concept. From 1995 through 1999, Kia held licensing rights to the <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/elan">Lotus Elan</a> and produced <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Elan#.3D" target="_blank">the Kia Elan for the Korean Market</a>.<br />
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Kia is also reportedly working on a small, all-wheel-drive vehicle to slot below the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/sportage">Sportage</a>. The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/soul">Soul</a> is due for a revamp within the next two years, so it makes sense that the funky hatchback could get all-wheel drive as part of its overhaul.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/265831/kias_mx5_rival_revealed.h tml" target="_blank">Auto Express</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/rumormill-kia-planning-mazda-mx-5-fighter-all-wheel-drive-soul/">Rumormill: Kia planning Mazda MX-5 fighter, all-wheel-drive Soul</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:32:00 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://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/265831/kias_mx5_rival_revealed.h tml>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/rumormill-kia-planning-mazda-mx-5-fighter-all-wheel-drive-soul/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19891928/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/25/rumormill-kia-planning-mazda-mx-5-fighter-all-wheel-drive-soul/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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