Kia Soul news - Their Soul, our Soul - 2008

This is the Kia Soul, an all-new crossover-type-vehicle from the Korean manufacturer honouring the late Godfather of Soul, James Brown.  

Not really. Kia says that the Soul name is both indicative of the new car's 'life and individuality', and also a 'fun play on words' around Seoul, the manufacturer's home city. The cads. 

Kia is majoring on the, erm, unclassifiability of the Soul, which, it stresses, is not a replacement for any existing vehicle in the line-up. The Soul was previewed by a trio of concepts at the Geneva show earlier this year, and will be formally unveiled in production form in Paris this October. 

So what is it? Kia is staying sketchy on the details, only describing the Soul as a 'rebel', and a 'segment-busting car'. It sits on an all-new platform and should be powered by the same engines as the C'eed. 

Despite the jacked-up ride, it'll be two-wheel drive only. Kia says the Soul will be easy to personalise, so think of it as Mini-meets-Nissan-Qashqai and you're in the right area.

We'll see the Soul in the UK in early 2009. Get your James Brown CD box set at the ready.