Is the Kia Soul Visiting Land Rover Dealerships?

Michael October 11th, 2007 10:56 AM Link

The explanation is rather simple: it broke down since it is a prototype and truck driver took it where he usually drops off disabled trucklettes without realizing it is not a Land Rover.

Mena October 11th, 2007 11:27 AM Link

Looks like a Land Rover to me.

GObber October 11th, 2007 11:54 AM Link

Its a baby Land Rover

Steven J Ewing October 11th, 2007 12:12 PM Link

I had seen a mule like this (might be the same one) running around the Ann Arbor, Michigan area, where Hyundai/Kia vehicles are frequently spotted testing. I’m not sure what it would be doing at a Land Rover dealer, but I’m convinced it’s the Soul.

Scratch October 11th, 2007 12:20 PM Link

Kia is way too cheap to put wheels that big on its cars. Plus the vent above the front fender looks just like the one on the LR3. That’s a Land Rover.

chris mich October 11th, 2007 12:20 PM Link

@ Michael: LOL.

Donald October 11th, 2007 2:13 PM Link

Considering the complaints about the high cost of replacing the expensive tires on the recent Kia Rondo, I don’t think Kia is “too cheap” to put a set of wheels that size on it.

This definitely looks like the Soul prototype that has popped up in photos recently.

I have to agree with Michael on this one; the car broke down, it looks like a Landrover, and since tow operators are conditioned by frequency of problems to pick up Landrovers in distress, he took it to the nearest Landrover dealerhip out of reflex.

Either that or the flatbed driver just stopped at the dealership to see what his schedule was this week for picking up Range Rovers sitting dead in customers’ driveways.

Max October 11th, 2007 2:16 PM Link

Based on several cues (wheels, side mirror, hood/fender vent, overall beefiness) it fits the LR2 design language pretty nicely. Seems like a silly thing to put a prototype/test mule in your own parking lot. As the owner of a Range Rover myself I can attest to Land Rover’s seeming lack of common sense; but I love my Range Rover.

Reilly October 11th, 2007 2:26 PM Link

It does appear LR like ,but the article is correct. It’s a Kia Soul. Picture of the Soul reveals the same cues.

John Carder October 11th, 2007 2:38 PM Link

If it’s a Kia, they’re practically cloning LR design themes. From the fake duct between the wheel and mirror to the twin-rib spokes on the wheels, to the strip of roof showing above the windshield, they’ve copied a lot. The vertical angle of the rear hatch/door appears to be very vertical, and LR has been sloping it more with recent models. That could be the LR designer saying that with the short wheelbase, he needs the cubic feet, or the Kia designer thought he had to do something slightly different than LR. Well, the door moulding is placed higher than LR does. Based on that, I’m leaning towards Kia over LR, but it’s under vinyl, so who knows if it’s real? At this point, we’re all guessing.

Michael October 11th, 2007 2:41 PM Link

I do want to provide an excuse for the driver: he was not aware of Asian knock offs of expensive European merchandise labels.

Kenny October 20th, 2007 11:04 PM Link

For all of you who stated stupid comments about it breaking down you are idiots!!! Why don’t you go ahead and read everything about Kia. It is doing damage to the others!! It is the Kia Soul. Why it is at a Land Rover Dealership is a good question???

New Suvs-New Suv-Car price-Suv Review-Suv-Suvs » Blog Archive » Spy Land Rover November 2nd, 2007 8:08 PM Link

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JP November 3rd, 2007 12:30 AM Link

This seems to have all of the features of a Land Rover and it is at a Land Rover Dealership… But every kia that has come out in the past 5+ years seems to be a copy of some other car with the required changes to eliminate lawsuits. IDK it could be either doesnt look too bad though. I guess I just hate Kia and Hyundai cause they both are to unoriginal to design their own. Being their design artist must be the easiest job in the car industry just use photoshop and cut copy and paste parts of other cars together to make one.

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