The Soul, a brand new hatchback model from Kia, will go on sale in early 2009 with a choice of two petrol engines (2.0 and 1.6 litres) and a 1.6-litre diesel engine featuring a VGT (variable geometry turbocharger).

Kia has confirmed that the new model, which will be available exclusively as a five-door hatchback with front-wheel drive, will have an overall length of 4105 mm, and a 2550 mm wheelbase. The height will be 1610 mm and width 1785 mm. The dimensions are close to those of a Toyota Avanza, for comparison.

To be manufactured in Korea, the Soul is said to ‘defy conventions’ and appeal especially to the young and the young-at-heart and is destined to play a unique role within Kia’s global product line-up. Emulating the Scion brand strategy used by Toyota in North America, Kia expects the Soul to be able to provide a creative platform for buyers to individualise and match their car to their own personality.

The world premiere of the Soul will be at the Paris Motorshow this October and deliveries will begin in Europe during February 2009, followed by the USA and remaining overseas markets from April 2009. Given its size, it would also be a model that Naza-Kia would want to offer in Malaysia (especially the turbodiesel) but the acceptance of the styling would be a big question mark.

Kia Soul concept was first shown in September 2006. Not all the design ideas have made it to the production model

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