According to Gasgoo, Kia’s joint venture with the Dongfeng Motor Corp Chinese partner, Dongfeng Yueda Kia, will market the Soul under the “Xiu Er” name. This can be translated to “Show You”.
The soul was introduced to the Chinese market two months ago, but the car has been received with less enthusiasts than the company expected. The carmaker has renamed the car, offering it a bespoke name, a move which should “show the personality and style of its buyers / drivers", thus boosting the Soul's image and eventually increasing its sales.
On the Chinese market, the Soul comes with two engines, a 1.6 liter and a 2.0 liter and has a starting price of $11,700. The car is produced in China and was supposed to be an important model in the Kia line-up, as the automaker relied on it to increase its sales on the local market.
The Kia Soul was designed at the company’s U.S. design center, located in California and entered production at the end of 2008. Its engine range includes 2 petrol units and a diesel engine. The entry-level 1.6 liter petrol unit produces 124 HP and 156 Nm of torque. The 2.0 liter petrol engine offers 142HP and 186 Nm of torque. The 1.6 liter diesel unit delivers 126 HP and 255 Nm of torque. Kia offers a high level of customization Soul - 10,000 combinations of engines, styling, colors and accessories are available.
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