The Australian website also talked to Kia’s Chief Designer and the person responsible for bringing the brand’s styling up to par and in some cases, even bettering the competition, Peter Schreyer, who was quite enthusiastic about the prospect of designing a premium rear-wheel drive sedan, without however, confirming its existence.

“I think when you can work with the rear-wheel drive proportion it is always good for the designer,” said Schreyer. “For a big sedan it is the better proportion; fantastic proportion of course.” When asked if the K9 would also give birth to a new design direction for the company he said: “Always we try to do that … but I cannot talk about things that are probably in development.”

The report goes on to say the Kia might surprise us at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show with the unveiling of the K9, either in production form as a concept study. If the rumors are true, you can bet on the K9 (or whatever name Kia decides to use) being based on the platform and mechanical hardware of the Genesis sedan.

Kia’s current top offering in the sedan segment is the front-wheel drive Cadenza, called the K7 (hence the reports on the K9 name) in its home market. According to Kia officials, the Cadenza will be launched in the States before the end of 2011.

What Korea needs (and, by default, what its car industry needs) is a car like the Soul, a funky little box-on-wheels hatchback that comes in such hipster hues as Molten, Java, Shadow, Dune and Alien. Houndstooth and glow-in-the-dark upholsteries are available. As such, this commuter-friendly hatchback is a game-changer for Kia that should be bought for more than just its typical low price and lengthy warranty. Pardon the pun, but this thing’s actually got some soul.

With its boxy shape, the 2010 Soul clearly has the Scion xB in its sights. However, the Kia has more rounded edges and a more angled greenhouse that features sharp-looking, blacked-out A-pillars. Inside, a stylish design available in two-tone hues complements straightforward controls. In terms of size, the Soul slots in between the too-small original xB and the current too-big (for some) xB, providing ample interior space and just enough cargo capacity.

Underneath its quirky styling resides a heavily modified Rio platform (hardly a great place to start), but the result is nevertheless a surprisingly fun-to-drive small car. It’s no Mini Cooper, but the Soul stays well-planted in corners and provides the driver with a decent amount of feedback. Around town, the Soul is comfortable enough, but its low-tech suspension design results in a busy ride at highway speeds — a sensation exacerbated by the higher trim levels’ bigger wheels.

KIA KND 4 SUV unveiled for the first time in Los Angeles, Seoul Motor Show in 2007 to provide an idea of what next-generation Kia compact SUVs will be like. It is consumer appealing with its features and it removes the boundary between the city and outdoors to allow the driver to express his or her unique personality, freedom and an active lifestyle. This is the first Kia Suv vehicle to demonstrate the company’s renewed passion for Design & Technology and its ongoing commitment to making automobiles and SUVs that are both more stylish and technologically advanced. It has ‘The Power to Surprise.’

Kia has added a new trim level to their successful Sportage line-up. It’s called the SX Turbo and is powered by a Theta II 2.0-liter Turbo GDI engine with an output of 256 HP. These figures make it the most powerful model in the line-up. Next to the impressive engine, the SX version will also get distinctive features on both the exterior and interior.

Kia Motors unveiled its concept car SOUL Burner during 2008 the Geneva Motor Show. The Kia SOUL Burner features an all black color with tattoos of a large dragon creeping over the hood and a small dragon climbing up the C-Pillar. The front bumper comes with L-shaped day-light LED driving lamps around the outer edges and the rear has two vertical exhaust pipes on the extremes of the bumper and lastly the inside of the SOUL Burner has four individual sports seats and cabin trim divided horizontally.

While some of my writing colleagues argue that the automotive press has taken the Kia Soul’s exterior design to its heart - it really is a cool-looking outline that looks something like the Nissan Cube and Scion xB but blows them away when it comes to the overall outline that’s sleek and up-to-date.

From the sleek front end, which integrates the bumper headlight clusters and grille into a rather nice-looking design, which flows up the hood and through the sloping windshield and rounded, aerodynamic roofline to a rear that combines a small built-in spoiler and rounded, integrated bumper and quarters, the Soul is a very mice-looking microwagon. It’s one of a new variety of small people-haulers that probably have gasoline planners pulling their hair out as I am sure that more than one of Big Oil’s planners has predicated its quarterly profit on the public’s love of Big Cars and Trucks with Large Engines and which literally drink fuel, instead of sipping it like the Soul does.

Initially unveiled at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, Kia has already confirmed production plans for the US  market.

Under the current circumstances an Australian release seems unlikely for the time being, nonetheless CarAdvice has asked Kia Australia for comment.

The Korean company has built the Soul to appeal to a younger market. With a pimped out stereo and aggressive styling, the Soul is definitely one Kia we we are keen to test.

Kia Motors has released new images of its upcoming Soul crossover, revealing us the first good look at the full front view of the production car. Along with these exclusive images, Kia also released details on powertrain options that the Soul range will include when it goes on sale next year.

The 2009 Kia Soul will be released in three different powertrain configurations. The entry level 1.6L gasoline engine (124hp) will be available, as well as more powerful 2.0L gasoline unit. European buyers will also have a choice of 1.6L turbodiesel engine with variable geometry turbocharger. All three engines are similar to the engines currently in use in the European built Kia cee’d. Manual and automatic transmissions will be available.

Kia Soul sits on a modified Rio platform and will be the front wheel drive vehicle only. At 4,105 mm (161-in) in length and 1,785 mm (70,3-in) in width it has grown in size compared to Rio hatch. Although it has compact overall dimensions, the Soul features an exceptionally long (for its size) wheelbase of 2550 mm. The up to 18-inch wheels are placed at the body corners to ensure smooth and sporty driving.

The world premiere is scheduled for the Paris Auto Show and will happen on the 2 nd of October. Sales will commence in February next year after Soul arrives to Kia dealers in Europe. The US launch date has also been announced and it was set for April 2009! More details will soon be released, so stay with us.