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Post #1 Sun, Feb 12, 9:45 AM |
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WhiteChocolateWorld
Supercar Messiah - 42535
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. : 2012 KIA TRACKSTER CONCEPT : .
February 8, 2012
What happens when a dream becomes reality? In the case of the Kia Trackster Concept unveiled at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, car enthusiasts begin to salivate. Amid the driving rhythm of heavy-metal music, smoke and blinding lights, KiaMotors America (KMA) took the wraps off a performance-oriented three-door Soul coupé concept that hints at what could possibly be the future of Kia's wildly successful Soul.
"The ideawas to make the Trackster tough looking, like a bulldog," saidTom Kearns, Chief Designer for KMA. "But the car had to be approachable as well. We wanted to base the car in reality so people instantly knew it was a Soul, but with a lot of attitude. It had to be abold interpretation that would change people's conceptions of what a sporty Kia could be."
Mission accomplished
The bold attitude Kearns refers to starts with the eye-catching Whiteout and Inferno Orange paint scheme. While the white portrays complex layers and shades that contribute to dramatic depth, the orange is perfectly suited for racing. Kia's signature grille features an air intake slit and is trimmed in lightweight carbon fibre. Smoothly integrated head lights sweep back suggestively over the sculpted front-wheel arches. The deeply recessed lenses echo the trapezoid themes found throughout the Kia Trackster Concept and are accented with compelling LEDs.
Most striking up front is the Trackster's lower intake grille. Flanked by immense LED driving lights with billet aluminium surrounds, the Trackster is capable of devouring prodigious amounts of air to keep the engine running cool even under the most gruelling conditions. The lower valance, trimmed in carbon fibre and accented with Inferno Orange, rides just inches off the ground and lends to the car's menacing stance.
The KiaTrackster Concept is not just another pretty face; it has a body to match. Sculpted surfaces seem to flow into each other naturally. The flanks are smooth but accented with well-defined wheel enclosures. Tucked beneath the Trackster's hips are custom HRE-K1 monoblock billet performance wheels that were a joint effort of Kia's California design team and HRE. The wheels are wrapped in 245/40-19-inch front and massive 285/35-19-inch rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 high-performance tyres.
The wheelbase on the concept is stretched to 101.2-inches, almost an inch longer than the production Soul. As expected on a car with the Trackster's performance intentions, large 14-inch Brembo vented and cross-drilled disc brakes are embraced by six-piston callipers up front and 13.6-inch discs are paired with four-piston calipers at the rear.
Soul fans will instantly recognize the Trackster's angled roof, accented with Inferno Orange. Closer inspection reveals this concept, while Soul inspired, is missing the production car's rear doors. The front doors have been lengthened and adorned with smooth billet push-style handles which echo the racing-inspired billet fuel filler door. Carbon fibre lower side valances are also accented in Inferno Orange and incorporate functional rear-brake cooling ducts. The rear hatch incorporates a horizontal Inferno Orange "backpack" panel that accentuates the Kia Trackster Concept's 75.5-inch width, which is more than 5-inches wider than aproduction Soul.
Performance on road and track
With performance as the top priority, the Trackster rolls into Chicagowith a concept drivetrain sure to kick start any driving enthusiast's heart. KMA's design team dreamed big, but also kept their vision firmly rooted in reality. A 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line-four engine puts 250horsepower to the road, a66 per cent increase over that of the production Soul. Power is routed to all four wheels via an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system. The short-throw six-speed manual transmission is capped with a stubby spherical shift lever. The Trackster rides on a lowered sport suspension tuned for track performance.
Opening the driver's door reveals a light and airy interior highlighted with deeply bolstered Inferno Orange suede-covered racing seats. Granite Grey leather envelopes the interior landscape and imparts a feeling of strength and stability. Granite Grey suede wraps the sport steeringwheel and door panels. Located deep within red-glowing nacelles, the primary instruments are large and easily readable. Auxiliary vehicle information such as oil temperature and battery voltage is found atop the dash panel while navigation, entertainment and ventilation controls are accessed through a large touch-screen panel located just above the engine Start/Stop push-button.
Behind the front seats is where Kia Trackster Concept takes a significant step away from its Soul stable mate. The rear seats have been removed and replaced with a fully integrated equipment tray and spare-tyre well. "We saw the Trackster as aperformance-inspired concept that could spend time on the road and racetrack," said Kearns. "The idea was to make the tools and equipment necessary to keep the car performing in top condition easily accessible." Large panelled bins stow racing gear such as helmets, suits, gloves and tools while emergency supplies are housed within a separate and highly visible Inferno Orange container. A custom rear strut brace incorporates aquick-release handle to allow for fast wheel changes.
While there are no current plans to produce the Trackster, Kia's California design centre team enthusiastically took on the project. "Concept cars are icing on the cake," said Kearns. "They allow KMA's design team to dream about what could be. Whether that dream becomes a reality or not is aseparate question."
This is for Chris Draper:
A boot for Christmas.
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Post #2 Mon, Feb 13, 1:49 PM |
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Veyronman
Hours wasted - 97696
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I like it
The words I hate are:
gangsta, ghetto, scum, poor, socialist, leftist, free healthcare, and leeching.
Aside Obama voters who like poverty and sharing misery from leeching of other's people salary, hating poor people is absolutely normal and justified.
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Post #3 Wed, Feb 15, 8:04 PM |
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Atomic2
BANNED - 23104
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its sexy as hell. I was there at the unveiling. Never thought Id like a boxy car so much.
Member of CHUPA
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Post #4 Thu, Feb 23, 1:21 PM |
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ging
Supercar Messiah - 21933
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is this Kias thing now? to put '-ster' onto the end of every model?
Leader of the supercars.net mrrrgh crew.
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Post #5 Thu, Feb 23, 6:49 PM |
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bananatucker
Supercar Messiah - 18201
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I dont like it at all
"well she earned every penny!"-my buddy J after leaving a $.50 cent tip to a lousy blond bartender chick
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Post #6 Sun, Apr 1, 4:38 AM |
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RedPower
Supercar Guru - 623
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I like the looks, especially the side coves and funky taillights. Surely a production version couldn't be too tough to do? Scion and Nissan aren't going to do hot versions of the xB or Cube, so Kia would have the market to themselves. If the Optima can have a good engine, why not the Soul?
Jerkwad robots make me sick to my ass.
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Post #7 Wed, Apr 25, 12:15 AM |
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TOXA
Supercar Messiah - 6683
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Quote from ging
is this Kias thing now? to put '-ster' onto the end of every model?
pretty sure its a hyindai
also, this thing looks so awesome
"I don't need to go a site to make friends, you damn gingerbread imbecile. I make friends naturally."
"i think more that article lancer vance the member sc.net from come"
"my favorite thing to think about is how radical it would be if He just suddenly gave us a fourth primary color"
"AWD 4x4 is cheating and can't be taken serious"
"What I do for a living requires knowledge related to IT and a sharp customer driven oriented approach"
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Post #8 Sun, Jun 10, 11:46 PM |
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SWTipo
Supercar Messiah - 1975
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Quote from wendyss I like to make friends with you,haha.
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I will use a bastard sword and then I will see at what looks like a fried pork chopped azn face
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Posted: Today |
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Superbot
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Posted: Today |
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Superbot
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