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Back to October 2012 Motorsports News Archive
| 17-10-2012 at 22:00: Track’ster Concept to be seen in Sydney | |
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The brand will be showing off a new concept in the form of the Track’ster. This is Kia’s new idea of the Soul as a performance-oriented three-door coupe. This may just give the indication of where the company is going with design. The US-designed concept has a lower intake grille and is clanked by immense LED driving lights with billet aluminium surrounds. With its wide open lower month the Track’ster will sure get its mouth full of air. Being low to the ground, the concept is trimmed with carbon fibre and has a wide look body. Tucked under the rather flared guards are custom HRE-K1 monoblock billet performance wheels that took a joint effort, Kia and HRE, to design. The 245/40×19 fronts and 185/35×19 rears are fitted with one of the best tyres in the world, Michelin. As to be expected the concept is fitted with only the best options. The front brakes are 356mm Brembo and the rotor is stopped with a six-piston calliper while the rear is 340mm disc with some not too shabby four-piston callipers. If you know the Soul range, you could be mistaken for thinking this was one. While the concept is inspired by one it is missing one vital part. The rear production doors have been removed and the front doors lengthened. They also incorporate smooth billet push-style handles while a racing-inspired billet fuel door has been used. The gaps in the rear of the side valances, side skirts as we know them, are a functional design to help cool the rear brakes. The Track’ster is 1917mm in with which is a considerate amount larger than the production Soul, 127mm more. Now you have all been wondering what Kia would put under the hood of such concept. Well they have not disappointed in this idea. The 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4 engine will push out 186kW and is a rather impressive 66 per cent increase in power over the production Soul. Not only is there some good kW coming from this engine, it will be put the ground in an electronically controlled four wheel drive system. Chuck in a six-speed box and some lowered sport suspension that is tuned for the track and you have a decent package. Get inside and you can see the outside Inferno Orange follows you on the suede-covered racing seats. Granite Gray leather envelopes the landscape of the interior and gives off a sport yet classy feel. The sport steering wheel and door panels are also wrapped in the Granite Grey leather. The instrument panel glows in an angry red giving a sporty aggressive look and is readable with all of your normal information. The centre display includes the battery voltage and oil temperature and a large touch screen is located about the engine start/stop push-button.
While there are no firm plans to produce the Track’ster, Kia’s head of designer Peter Schreyer, speaking at the recent Paris Motor Show, said he harboured strong hopes that the striking concept model could have a production future. We will get more information on this concept in the coming days and see what Kia Australia have to say about this rather cool concept.
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Kia has been holding back on what they are bringing to this year’s Australian International Motor Show. Now though, they have released the embargo and we can share with you what you can expect to see at the show as well as hear all about in the next few issues of ADM Drivers Torque.
Behind the front seats is where Track’ster takes a significant step away from its Soul stablemate. The rear seats have been removed and replaced with a fully integrated equipment tray and spare-tyre well. 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 a quick-release handle to allow for fast wheel changes.^ Back to top ^
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