Smart Design Creates Kia Soul of the Future

As part of the Soul Xpression project (just like the Antenna Denim version), the guys at Smart Design worked on their own interpretation of the Kia Soul. The result? A futuristic version of the popular model.

“We wanted to reflect the soul of each city. The vehicle allows a unique degree of flexibility, customization, and expression for each unique culture and energy,” said design director Blake McEldowney.

Blake’s first inspiration was the clash of culture from Smart’s offices spread across New York, San Francisco, and Barcelona in what he calls a “Soul City Mash-Up.” As a source of inspiration, the designers looked at what makes these cities great, both in terms of differences and similarities.

“We wanted each Kia Soul user to have their own profile that adjusts the settings of the vehicle to the person and their driving style.”

By using futuristic digital LCD and multicolored LEDs for the exterior, the driver can express their ‘soul’ through a set of color schemes that reflect the city, mood or even the event they are going to. For the interior, the idea was to encourage social interaction via physical form and custom technology applications.

"The Soul Xpression program takes design elements of the Soul to the next level by adding specific visions from inspirational style leaders," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing at KMA in a statement for the press. "As a head-turning example of modern design, the Soul was the perfect canvas for influential designers and thought leaders to come together and express everything that would make it further befitting of its name."