Kia Feels the Beat with Five Music-Themed Souls at the SEMA Show

Kia's dancing all the way to Las Vegas and the 2013 SEMA Show with five concept versions of its 2014 Soul compact. The music-themed builds include the DJ Booth Soul, Amped Soul, Music Memorabilia Soul, a Soul inspired by NBC’s show The Voice and a Soul highlighting the brand’s partnership with the Vans Warped Tour.

Three of the vehicles have been built by Galpin Auto Sports and LUX Motorwerks and feature premium audio components intended for live performance, while the others showcase musical lifestyles and trends. In detail:

Amped Soul
This Kia Soul has been fitted by Popular Mechanics with enormous JBL speakers. The car features JBL Pro Live sound equipment integrated into the rear-hinged doors, LED ambient lighting and four 12-inch Infinity power subwoofers. Design-wise, the Amped Soul features blacked out windows and a custom paint job. It rides on huge 22-inch Forgiato custom three-piece wheels and it has no B-pillar on the passenger side in order to make room for the club-sized stereo.

Vans Warped Tour Soul
The second Soul designed by Popular Mechanics is a tribute to the Vans Warped Tour. Featuring a full custom paint job inspired by the colors of the Vans Warped Tour, the car has custom-built fiberglass body panels replacing the side windows that house eight Infinity 8-inch speakers. There’s also a 50-inch flat-panel monitor mounted atop the car with running footage from the tour itself. The Vans Warped Tour Soul also features a slide-out rear barbeque, a specially designed hood ornament, 20-inch wheels and LED ambient lighting.

DJ Booth Soul
As the name suggests, this Soul has been transformed into DJ booth on wheels by RIDES magazine. The car has no roof to give the DJ the ability to rise up and stand on a custom diamond-plated stage (which replaced the rear seats) and start spinning on the pro-grade Pioneer CDJs and mixer. It is painted in purple with turquoise accents, and comes with a lowered suspension while riding on 19-inch Rotiform BRU wheels. The Pioneer audio system includes five amplifiers, three component speakers, two 10-inch and two 12-inch Champion Series subwoofers, and a sound bar housing four coaxial speakers.

Music Memorabilia Soul
This unique Kia Soul is essentially a music museum on wheels created by RIDES magazine. It includes music memorabilia spanning rock, hip-hop and EDM history. Exhibits include a signed guitar from Slash, a G-Unit sneaker signed by 50 Cent, a Jimi Hendrix gold album and a signed John Legend microphone, all displayed in hand-built Plexiglas enclosures in the trunk, rear windows and rear hatch insert. 

The Voice Soul
This particular concept is dedicated to NBC’s The Voice show and has been customized by RIDES magazine. It features a bright red airbrushed The Voice logo on the side, incorporating vinyl on the window portion, as well as the inspiring words “I Want You” illuminated in the lower grille, along with the LED puddle projectors. The 20-inch three-piece Niche Scope wheels match the vehicle’s color, while the four replicated coaches’ chairs are the highlight of the interior that features red leather, black suede and red stitching. It even comes with an iPad Mini connected to a 40-inch LED TV that allows aspiring singers to use the preloaded The Voice app and sing through the wireless microphone, amplified through Rockford Fosgate speakers in their fiberglass custom pods.

Alongside the Soul custom concepts, Kia is also displaying the refreshed 2014 Optima, plus the 2014 Forte Koup and 2014 Forte hatchback fitted with the 201hp four-cylinder turbocharged engine.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

Kia Sportage Concept is One Happy Looking Design Study

Ever since Kia placed German automobile designer Peter Schreyer at the helm of its design division in 2006, the Korean automaker's products have gone from good to better, as far as styling is concerned (mpg's, not so much…). 
Design, however, is a process that constantly evolves and is always in need of some fresh input, so it's actually great to see independent stylists applying their personal touch on an automaker's products.

Kia Says Soul'ster Concept is Under Final Assessment for Production

It's been three years since Kia pulled the wraps off its conceptual Soul'ster convertible truck at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show. Kia fueled some rumors at the time that it was considering a production version of the car but never followed up on it. Until today, that is.
Unexpectedly, in the press statement on the Track'ster Concept that's scheduled to debut at the Chicago Auto Show next week, Kia dropped the ball saying that the Soul’ster convertible is "currently under final assessment for production".
The Korean maker did not elaborate further but we assume that if it receives the green light, the Soul'ster should be on its way to the market very soon.
The original concept is a two-door mixture of convertible and pickup models with seating for four passengers. It features a shortened windshield for a more hunkered down appearance and is equipped with a two-piece removable top residing on a roll bar that provides additional protections for the occupants.

New Kia Track'ster Concept based on the Soul Heads to Chicago Auto Show

This is the first official teaser rendering of Kia's latest concept based on the Soul crossover. It's called the Track'ster and it will make its first public appearance at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show next week.
Penned in Kia's California design studio, the Track'ster shows how a more sporty, three-door version of the Soul could look like, though the South Korean automaker is quick to point out that currently, there are no plans for a production version.

Rumors: Kia Insiders Say GT RWD Sedan Could be Joined by Coupe and Sport Wagon

Kia's ascent from an inexpensive maker of bland products to a company that aspires to compete with the heavy weights in the mainstream segments continues with the South Korean firm now planning to introduce its first-ever rear-wheel drive model based on the GT concept we saw at the Frankfurt Motor Show this past September.
But the sedan model, which is expected to make its appearance in production form as early as 2013, may not be alone if we are to believe a report from Edmunds' Insideline.
Citing company insiders, the report says that Kia is also considering adding an even sportier two-door coupe version as well as a more practical station wagon model to the range of the production GT.

Rumors: Kia to Unveil V8 RWD Sports Car Concept at Frankfurt Motor Show

During the past few years, Kia has completely transformed its image from a manufacturer of affordable, but rather unexceptional, cars to that of an automaker that offers a stylish and coherent range, thanks in no small part to the hiring of ex-VW Group designer Peter Schreyer. Now, however, it is moving in uncharted waters if a recent report from What Car is accurate.

New Kia KV7 Crossover Blogspot

Kia is giving us our first glimpse of its all-new KV7 concept model, which will have its world premiere at next month's 2011 Detroit Motor Show. Aside from the teaser rendering you see pictured above, the Korean firm didn't really reveal any details on the funky crossover model that features a set of Gullwing-style rear doors, but if you insist, we've added the press release after the jump.

Kia Officials Hint at New Premium RWD K9 Sedan Based on the Genesis

South Korea’s largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Co. is leaving no stone unturned in its quest for world domination. Having already pushed its Hyundai brand into new territories with the Genesis and Equus premium sedans as well as the sporty, rear-wheel drive Genesis Coupe, the Koreans now appear to be focusing on the company’s second brand, Kia.
We first heard rumors about a range topping Kia sedan referred to by most as the K9 in late 2009, but now, the word is coming from two company officials.
"We have an interest in all new models under development. A rear-wheel-drive premium sedan could be seen as a logical step from the Optima to the next level of Kia development," Kia Motors Australia COO Tony Barlow told Drive, an Australian car site. "It is far too early at this stage to be any more precise about the car but we will definitely maintain a watching brief,” he added.

Kia Unveils Naimo EV Concept at Seoul Motor Show

Making its world premiere today at the at the Seoul Motor Show, is Kia’s Naimo electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV), a B-segment sized concept car that will serve as a test-bed for the company's EV technology. Penned by Kia's international design team in Seoul, the car takes its name from the Korean word “Ne-mo”, which is pronounced ‘Neh-mo’ and means ‘square shape.

Kia KV7 Concept Live from 2011 Detroit Motor Show

Unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, the gullwing-door Kia KV7 is a concept on a mission, aiming to change the perception about conventional MPVs. The South Korean automaker beleives that a people carrier should not only be roomy and versatile, but also eccentric and packed with the latest available technologies.

Gullwing-door Kia KV7 Concept Flies into Detroit

After two teaser shots and a couple of leaked images earlier today, Kia’s “activity MPV” concept, the KV7, finally hit the showroom floor at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.Designed to challenge the notion that minivans are strictly for transporting people, the KV7 stands out with its boxy design and, according to the Koreans, also wants to serve as a “connected social hub for groups of friends and adventure-seekers”.

First Photos of Kia's Detroit Show KV7 Concept Study

We've already seen a teaser rendering of Kia's new KV7 concept, but the first real-life photos of the South Korean automaker's Detroit motorshow-bound design study have just made their way onto the internet. Official details remain slim, but we do know that the crossover concept with the very Ford Flex-like shape and the Gullwing-style rear doors has been penned at Kia's California design studio. We'll have more on the KV7 from the Cobo Center later today.

Detroit Preview: Kia Publishes One More Teaser of its KV7 Concept Study

In a few days from now, we'll get to see Kia's all-new KV7 crossover concept in the flesh at the Detroit Motor Show, but until then, we have one more teaser to share with you. This time, the South Korean firm released a cropped image of the actual concept model, providing a sneak peak of the KV7's front end. Previously, Kia had shown a rendering of the crossover model revealing the study's gullwing-style rear doors.

New Kia KV7 Crossover Concept Heading to Detroit Motor Show

Kia is giving us our first glimpse of its all-new KV7 concept model, which will have its world premiere at next month's 2011 Detroit Motor Show. Aside from the teaser rendering you see pictured above, the Korean firm didn't really reveal any details on the funky crossover model that features a set of Gullwing-style rear doors, but if you insist, we've added the press release after the jump.

SEMA: Kia Tunes into Green with Forte Hybrid Concept

We've already told you about the other Kia show cars at SEMA -namely, the Koup Type R, Soul specials and Sportages, but the South Korean firm also brought to Las Vegas a concept version of its Forte Hybrid. According to Kia's own words, the SEMA Show study "demonstrates styling options for those looking for an alternative to a mundane hybrid ride."

It is based on the South Korean market Forte LPI Hybrid, which utilizes a 1.6-liter LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) engine coupled to an electric motor with 15kW and 105Nm and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

The SEMA Show tune comes courtesy of Kinetic Motorsports and it includes a subtle aero kit, new alloy wheels wrapped in low-rolling resistance tires and a lowered suspension.

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.

SEMA Show: Kia Forte Koup Type R Concept

Making its debut at this week's SEMA aftermarket show is Kia's Forte Koup Type R Concept model, which is said to be inspired by its racing siblings that take part in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

The concept was developed by Kia's racing partner, Kinetic Motorsports, who built and campaigns the Forte Koup race cars. Performance upgrades are limited to a set of BBS RG 18-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels, race-inspired tires and suspension components, a short throw gaearshift and dampened composite fiber disc clutch.