Could it be? I desire a KIA? - LotusTalk

cspak71 · 10-12-2008, 01:06 AM

Sadly, I don't follow KIA in their products.. but I was pleasantly surprised to see one of these on the road... manufacturer's plates, near their design center. I would have liked it more if it offered AWD considering the ride height and design.

Not sure if it's a little too late to get into the whole "customization" game like Scion... but it's nice to see more interesting almost an "ipod" feel to vehicles.

Concept:

Final:

Not bad...

Noisycow · 10-12-2008, 02:33 AM

I like it!

alil'britdifferent · 10-12-2008, 03:30 AM

I saw a couple of these at the London Motor Show earlier this year.

Personally............................nah!

JWA · 10-12-2008, 06:44 AM

Yeah, I like it too. I had a Scion xB (the original generation) as a winter/utility companion to my Elise and it was a great little vehicle. This looks like it would be similar.

charliex · 10-12-2008, 09:27 AM

well kia did have a lotus in their range at one point, they bought the m100 from lotus.

FLuXeXigeS · 10-12-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliex

well kia did have a lotus in their range at one point, they bought the m100 from lotus.

yea i remember seeing a few of them in magazines with Kia emblems at first i was like WTF?

but this new one looks awfully close to a 2nd gen Scion xB

JWA · 10-12-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLuXeXigeS

but this new one looks awfully close to a 2nd gen Scion xB

It looks to me to be a lot like what the 2nd gen xB *should* have been. The new one is such a departure from the old one that their sales have dropped through the floor and other companies like Kia and Nissan with their Cube are stepping in to fill the void.

The original xB was funky, light, roomy, cheap, and economical. The replacement moved to a bigger chassis, added 500lbs, moved to a much bigger engine which dropped mileage considerably, and was nearly 25% more expensive. The old one was selling every one they could make, and now the future of Scion as a brand is in doubt. This was a surprisingly bad move on Toyota's part.

FLuXeXigeS · 10-12-2008, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWA

It looks to me to be a lot like what the 2nd gen xB *should* have been. The new one is such a departure from the old one that their sales have dropped through the floor and other companies like Kia and Nissan with their Cube are stepping in to fill the void.

The original xB was funky, light, roomy, cheap, and economical. The replacement moved to a bigger chassis, added 500lbs, moved to a much bigger engine which dropped mileage considerably, and was nearly 25% more expensive. The old one was selling every one they could make, and now the future of Scion as a brand is in doubt. This was a surprisingly bad move on Toyota's part.

dude im glad you said that, cus i totally agree with you 100%, being a big Scion enthusiast i think the 2nd gens lost a lot of their true raw charm and appeal as an "econobox", really a bad move from Toyota

Bane · 10-13-2008, 04:29 PM

I like the production one!

The ones at the auto shows though... holy crap those are FUGLY. I may venture into saying they are pug fugly. If that's what the general public is going to do to their cars then count me out for one

Abe · 10-13-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bane

I like the production one!

The ones at the auto shows though... holy crap those are FUGLY. I may venture into saying they are pug fugly. If that's what the general public is going to do to their cars then count me out for one

Ahh c'mon, you mean this didn't sway your mind? I keed, I keed.

FLuXeXigeS · 10-13-2008, 09:29 PM

holy effin crap!!!

CK_lotus · 10-13-2008, 09:57 PM

Almighty God... I never thought I would say, "It's a butt ugly Lotus."

tsunami racer · 10-14-2008, 09:16 AM

i just find it funny they're calling it "Soul" and not "Seoul"

The 2010 Kia Seoul, featuring 6 kim chee jar holders and that new garlic scent...

PhlypSide · 10-14-2008, 09:35 AM

SCORE! This is cool.... now if only Kia had a better reputation here in the US.

The new xB? Lame. The old one had it "right" for all the reasons already mentioned.

Sh*t if I wanted crappier gas mileage (compared to the "OG" xB) I'd just go buy a Ford Flex and fit more people in too.

JWA · 10-14-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhlypSide

SCORE! This is cool.... now if only Kia had a better reputation here in the US.

The new xB? Lame. The old one had it "right" for all the reasons already mentioned.

Sh*t if I wanted crappier gas mileage (compared to the "OG" xB) I'd just go buy a Ford Flex and fit more people in too.

WAIT a minute - did the grand wizard of FWD prejudice just comment favorably on three different FWD cars?

polojcp · 10-14-2008, 10:31 AM

I used to want to get this (KIA Elan). I event sent mails to KIA USA and they told me that they had no plan of bring it to US.

Viggen · 10-14-2008, 10:32 AM

one thing the japanese & korean auto manufacturers have always done well... is copy another competitors car.

Kia/Hyundia to me is just like Honda, Nissan, Toyota... remember in the 70's & 80's how crappy those cars were & in time they turned into some of the best cars on the road (still usually on the boring side though). I have always thought the same would happen with Kia & Hyundia, many of their newer cars seem to be designed quite well

serpent · 10-14-2008, 11:49 AM

meh...not my thing

10-12-2008, 01:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
cspak71 Mediocrity is a sin. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orange County Posts: 487 Images: 9	Could it be? I desire a KIA? Sadly, I don't follow KIA in their products.. but I was pleasantly surprised to see one of these on the road... manufacturer's plates, near their design center. I would have liked it more if it offered AWD considering the ride height and design. Not sure if it's a little too late to get into the whole "customization" game like Scion... but it's nice to see more interesting almost an "ipod" feel to vehicles. Concept: Final: Not bad... __________________ '05 SY Elise

10-12-2008, 02:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
Noisycow Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 777	I like it! __________________ - - The sun has risen.

10-12-2008, 03:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
alil'britdifferent English Exile Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fort Mill, SC Posts: 796	I saw a couple of these at the London Motor Show earlier this year. Personally............................nah! Attached Images __________________ 2005 Elise: Starlight Black - Touring & Sport Pack Faster, Lighter, Safer: Lotus Sport ECU - RTD Brace - Braille Battery - K40 anti-Radar/Laser - 4Tress Bar - Schroth 5P Harness' - Fire Ext'r - SS brake lines Audio: Alpine - JBL Speakers - Arqray Double Tip Exhaust w/ Sport Cat - Desnorkel/Green Visual: Hard top - Challenger Rear Grill - Carbon Fiber; Diffuser, Front Splitter & Side Scoops - Stealth Bulbs - Folding Tow Hook, Bootie, Mircomirror & Buttons

10-12-2008, 09:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
charliex disproving HD MTBF daily Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Las Vegas , NV Posts: 8,268	well kia did have a lotus in their range at one point, they bought the m100 from lotus. __________________ Black Exige S - http://goth.am 265 Mule / Elan M100 ECU Tuning, http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39660 Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud. After a while, you realise the pig is enjoying it.

10-13-2008, 04:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bane . Join Date: May 2005 Location: RanchoSahuarita.com, AZ Posts: 2,428 Images: 4	I like the production one! The ones at the auto shows though... holy crap those are FUGLY. I may venture into saying they are pug fugly. If that's what the general public is going to do to their cars then count me out for one __________________ 2005 Lotus Elise (#499) - PPE stainless race header \| Larini SE \| Euro grills \| Green air filter \| Saikou Michi catch can \| HID kit \| CF console \| CF shift knob \| B&M shifter \| PC625 \| Hardwired V1 \| Rota 15/16" black wheels \| Stebel Nautilus \| rear tow hook un-Official LotusTalk Stealth Bulb provider

10-12-2008, 06:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
JWA #33 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 3,293	Yeah, I like it too. I had a Scion xB (the original generation) as a winter/utility companion to my Elise and it was a great little vehicle. This looks like it would be similar.

10-13-2008, 09:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
FLuXeXigeS ...disappearing posts... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal/AZ/NV Posts: 4,344	holy effin crap!!! __________________ -Coi-'07 AR Exige S+Gotham, Von Hep, corner balanced&tuned SACHS, 6k HID, JVC KD-NX5000, Alpine 4ch. amp, JL stealth box, s111 rear towhook and harness bar, Starshield, TG4 1/4 turn fasteners, SS brake lines, bling bling eng bay, painted calipers, TD 1.2 wheels w/ Toyo R888, Safecraft harnesses, DRL delete, s111 CRD mount. add me: www.myspace.com/kandyredcoi & lotuscar.ning.com/profile/KandyRedCoi

10-13-2008, 09:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
CK_lotus Houston, TX Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 328	Almighty God... I never thought I would say, "It's a butt ugly Lotus." __________________ "Lotta people go through life doing things badly. Racing's important to men who do it well. When you´re racing, it’s life, anything that happens before or after is just waiting." (Steve McQueen, 1971) Daily driver -- '07 Graphite Grey Exige S with all factory options.

10-14-2008, 09:16 AM	#13 (permalink)
tsunami racer Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Playa Vista, CA Posts: 375	i just find it funny they're calling it "Soul" and not "Seoul" The 2010 Kia Seoul, featuring 6 kim chee jar holders and that new garlic scent... __________________ 2007 EXIGE S - Nightfall/Black 2007 Lotus Elise (sold) 2004 Subaru STi (sold) 1989 Metro Bus Pass (sold) 1984 BMX Dirt Bike (sold) 1979 Big Wheel (sold)

10-14-2008, 10:31 AM	#16 (permalink)
polojcp Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upland, California Posts: 145	You are not the first.... I used to want to get this (KIA Elan). I event sent mails to KIA USA and they told me that they had no plan of bring it to US. __________________ 2007 Elise Phantom Black Touring Pack Hard Top Star Shield

10-14-2008, 10:32 AM	#17 (permalink)
Viggen Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: on my couch Posts: 231	one thing the japanese & korean auto manufacturers have always done well... is copy another competitors car. Kia/Hyundia to me is just like Honda, Nissan, Toyota... remember in the 70's & 80's how crappy those cars were & in time they turned into some of the best cars on the road (still usually on the boring side though). I have always thought the same would happen with Kia & Hyundia, many of their newer cars seem to be designed quite well __________________ Lotus shopping Elise or Esprit

10-14-2008, 11:49 AM	#18 (permalink)
serpent Driver!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,203	meh...not my thing __________________ Studies show 100% of people die. Might as well have some fun.

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