Marty Padgett's Inside Scoop on Auto News and Concept Cars

2009 Detroit Show: Kia Soul'ster Concept

By TheCarConnection TeamColin Mathews, January 11th, 2009

A wedgy, funky little Kia concept called the Soul'ster was unveiled today at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

The new concept is based on the new 2010 Kia Soul hatchback, which goes on sale later in the year, and which we'll be driving shortly for a full review. The concept is spun from the same mechanicals, but Kia says it's a breezy alternative to the closed-roof car from the nose back.

The Soul'ster strikes a balance between the open-air fun of a Jeep and the impracticality of, say, a Suzuki X90. The interior does keep four seats--but the top rolls away into the roll bars to let in all the sunshine drivers can handle.

Along with the Soul'ster,...

A wedgy, funky little Kia concept called the Soul'ster was unveiled today at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The new concept is based on the new 2010 Kia Soul hatchback, which goes on sale later in the year, and which we'll be driving shortly for a full review. The concept is spun from the same mechanicals, but Kia says it's a breezy alternative to the closed-roof car from the nose back. The Soul'ster strikes a balance between the open-air fun of a Jeep and the impracticality of, say, a Suzuki X90. The interior does keep four seats--but the top rolls away into the roll bars to let in all the sunshine drivers can handle. Along with the Soul'ster,... Read More

Tags: North America, Marketing, Industry, New Products, Styling, Detroit Auto Show

Posted in: 2009, Kia, Hatchback, Concept Cars, Soul

California Upstarts Launch Startup, and It Is Awesome

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, December 18th, 2008

According to our sources, children are the future. And although some young people can make the forecast seem very dismal indeed, there are numerous bright spots on the horizon, including two enterprising guys from California, Rory Handel and Maxx Bricklin. (NB: Yes, he spells it with two Xes. He's just that badass.) Rory and Maxx have created the concept for a car that runs on electricity, the RORmaxx Formula AE. That in itself wouldn't raise many eyebrows these days, but there's more: Those batteries are powered, in part, by the sun and wind. PV cells are great and all, but the smartest part would seem to be the turbine and intake system.... According to our sources, children are the future. And although some young people can make the forecast seem very dismal indeed, there are numerous bright spots on the horizon, including two enterprising guys from California, Rory Handel and Maxx Bricklin. (NB: Yes, he spells it with two Xes. He's just that badass.) Rory and Maxx have created the concept for a car that runs on electricity, the RORmaxx Formula AE. That in itself wouldn't raise many eyebrows these days, but there's more: Those batteries are powered, in part, by the sun and wind. PV cells are great and all, but the smartest part would seem to be the turbine and intake system.... Read More

Posted in: Concept Cars, Green

2009 Geneva Show: iChange We Can't Entirely Believe In

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, December 16th, 2008

If you're heading to the Geneva International Motor Show next March, there are two things you ought to know: (a) we love chocolate, and (b) Frank M. Rinderknecht is unveiling another wacky concept car. Yes, the Swiss mystery man is adding to his conceptual stable of autos that morph at the press of a button and travel underwater. This time, he's giving us the iChange, an electric car that boasts zero emissions and low body weight. That doesn't sound especially innovative given the dozens of other electric cars threatening to flood auto markets, but of course, there's a catch: the iChange is a "1-2-3 seater." Which is clearly designed to make... If you're heading to the Geneva International Motor Show next March, there are two things you ought to know: (a) we love chocolate, and (b) Frank M. Rinderknecht is unveiling another wacky concept car. Yes, the Swiss mystery man is adding to his conceptual stable of autos that morph at the press of a button and travel underwater. This time, he's giving us the iChange, an electric car that boasts zero emissions and low body weight. That doesn't sound especially innovative given the dozens of other electric cars threatening to flood auto markets, but of course, there's a catch: the iChange is a "1-2-3 seater." Which is clearly designed to make... Read More

Tags: Electric Cars, Geneva Motor Show

Posted in: 2009, Concept Cars