Currently reading: Kia Track'ster concept: latest pic

Radical three-door sporting version of the Soul previewed ahead of Chicago auto show debut

Kia has previewed its new Kia Soul-based Kia Track’ster concept ahead of its launch at this month’s Chicago motor show. The concept previews how a sporting three-door version of the Soul crossover could look, and it could end up being made as a third Soul variant alongside the five-door and a convertible.

The Track’ster is powered with a 247bhp petrol engine, likely to be the firm’s 3.0-litre V6 engine. It is the work of Kia’s Californian design studio, which itself was also responsible for the Soul.

See the latest pic of the Kia Track’ster concept

Although Kia insists there are no plans for Track’ster production at this stage, such a model would make sense for the Soul line-up, particularly in the US. Kia sold more than 100,000 Souls in the US last year, and the convertible version – previewed by the Soul’ster concept, another Californa-designed model – remains under evaluation for production.

Tom Kearns, chief designer at the California design studio, says the latest Soul concept fits in range’s “rebellious, individual and urban character”. It gets large concept car wheels, a sloping roofline, sharply raked windscreen, narrow glasshouse and sculpting for the side doors.See all the latest Kia reviews, news and video

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theonlydt 3 February 2012

Re: Kia Track'ster concept unveiled

I'm surprised Kia has a modern 3.0V6 (though I checked, and they do). Given that the power/torque outputs don't measure up favourably against the 2.0 turbo used in the Optima, Sportage etc outside of Europe I do wonder if it really would come with the V6? I think more likely the turbo (274bhp, 269lbf of torque)

Flash Harry 3 February 2012

Re: Kia Track'ster concept unveiled

drivenfromtherearplease wrote:

Looks just like the profile view of a Mk1 Suzuki Swift Sport.

You beat me to it.The Swift was/is a trendsetter.It has influenced Skoda Nissan and now Kia.Of course it still looks better than all of them.Kia continue to move on though.

drivenfromthere... 2 February 2012

Re: Kia Track'ster concept unveiled

Looks just like the profile view of a Mk1 Suzuki Swift Sport.