Kia recalling around 24,000 2010 Soul subcompacts and around 11,200 2011 Sorento crossovers, all built from September 7, 2009 through July 30, 2010, due to a potential fault with the vehicles’ electrical system.

In a letter to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), Kia said a limited number of wiring harnesses supplied by JCI and used in the Soul’s lighting speaker system, located in the front door trim panels, and the Sorento’s interior accent illumination, placed in the front and rear door trim panels, may have been improperly soldered.

Even though there are no reports of accidents or injuries, the safety agency said under certain conditions, an electrical short may occur and result in a fire.

Kia’s dealers will replace the wiring harnesses for the lights on both vehicles, free of charge with the recall expected to begin later this month.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have launched a preliminary investigation into Kia’s 2010 Soul after receiving a complaint about a steering shaft that literally fell off from the steering wheel on a new car with just 4,300 miles on the odometer. NHSTA said the issue could potentially affect more than 51,000 Kia Soul cars.

“The steering shaft de-coupled from the hand wheel resulting in a complete loss of steering capability. The de-coupled steering shaft reportedly fell into a position that interfered with brake pedal application,” said NHSTA in a statement.

Even though NHTSA doesn’t usually open an investigation based on a single complaint, it did this time because the car was almost brand new and the problem could have led to an accident.

NHTSA said it was “very concerned about this failure in that it occurred without warning on a new vehicle at low mileage and resulted in a complete loss of steering as well as a compromised brake system.”

The Kia responded with a statement saying it is “committed to sharing information and findings with NHTSA on an ongoing basis in order to reach a prompt resolution.”

The new special editions named Domino and Echo that both play on black and white color schemes has been unveiled for Kia’s UK-market lineup. The Domino special edition is available on the Picanto and Rio superminis, while the Echo is offered on the Soul crossover.

The Picanto Domino is motivated by a 1.1-litre petrol engine hooked up to either a manual or automatic transmission, while the Rio Domino is available with a 1.4-litre petrol or 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine. Both the Rio and Picanto Domino editions are available in white or optional black metallic paint. Buyers can also opt for a contrasting black or white stripe covering the bumpers, mirrors and door handles.

Standard features include front fog lights, air-conditioning, iPod connectivity, remote central locking, leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear-knob and Electronic Stability Control, as well as rear electric windows on the Rio.

Prices start from £7,995 OTR for the Picanto Domino and from £9,295 OTR for the Rio Domino.

Following on from the Burner, Shaker and Samba, the Soul Echo is the latest special edition version of Kia’s small crossover. It is offered in a choice of two colors – Clear White or Quartz Black metallic – with contrasting features.

In particular, the white Echo gets black 18-inch alloy wheels, black high-gloss door mirrors and a corresponding black sports stripe, while the black Echo features white 18-inch alloys, white high-gloss door mirrors and a sports stripe in white.

Interior upgrades include a full black leather interior and high-gloss black dashboard fascia and uprated audio system with and iPod connectivity, as well as standard parking sensors, air conditioning and privacy glass.

The Soul Echo is offered with a choice of 1.6-litre petrol or 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engines, with prices starting from £13,995 OTR.

Meet another special edition version of the Kia Soul. The new tuning package comes from German tuning house Irmscher.

Called the “Edition Irmscher 001″, the new tuning package adds a variety of features including two-tone leather seats with red or graphite-colored diamond quilting pattern on the cushions and backrests, and black carbon-fiber-style leather on the outside areas. The same black-carbon-style leather is also found on the car’s steering wheel and gearbox.

Customers can also opt for a special exterior package that adds a black finish to the Kia Soul’s roof, bumper inserts and mirror caps, as well as stainless steel scuff plates, 18-inch alloy wheels shod in 225/45 R18 tires, and special graphics.

The Soul Irmscher 001 is available with all engines including a 126HP 1.6-liter petrol and a 128HP 1.6-liter diesel with a manual or automatic transmission, and trim levels.

The special limited edition Kia Soul to be offered in the U.S. Based on the Soul+ model and called “Ignition”, the limited version features a unique ignition orange exterior finish with contrasting black rally stripes, a rear spoiler, an alloy fuel door and black 18-inch alloy wheels with machined accents.

Kia has loaded the Ignition with more features including a higher-grade audio system with iPod connection, center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lights, carpeted floor mats, moon roof, fender vents with side marker repeaters and fog lights.

The new Kia Soul Iginition is available for order with prices starting from $17,500 for the model with a five-speed manual gearbox.

One of the local British Kia dealers has donated a new Kia Soul to the Sussex Police department. The small Kia’s crossover will be used by the team of Police Community Support Officer’s (PCSOs) as part of their street briefings and the general safe-keeping of Horsham South’s communities.

“The car is as highly visible as we are!” said PCSO Charlotte Whittaker. “We were delighted to have been given a car by Toll House, but to have one that turns heads as swiftly as this one does only helps us become more visible to the public.”

Toll House Kia, which provided the police-branded Soul Shaker to the Sussex Police department for a year, promice to replace the car after six months.

A compact, four-door, wagon-type vehicle, the Kia Soul fits four hamsters comfortably and they clearly enjoy the car’s iPod connectivity. Those hamsters not riding in a Soul, however, get a hamster wheel, which obviously won’t get them very far.

Korean automaker Kia announced today official price list for its Soul. The all-new Kia Soul will be available in four versions: Soul, Soul+, Soul! and Soul sport. The entry-level Soul will be equipped with a 120HP 1.6-liter unit with a five-speed manual transmission, the other three versions will be equipped with a 140HP 2.0-liter engine that can be hooked up to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. Prices range from $13,300 for the Soul 1.6L to a little under $19,000 for the Soul Sport with all the boxes ticked.

The Soul+ 2.0L, which includes standard keyless entry remote, solar glass and 16-inch alloy wheels, will start at $14,950 and top out at $17,100 when options including the Audio Package and power moonroof are included.

The Soul! 2.0L that adds the power moonroof, fog lights and 18-inch alloy wheels will be priced beginning at $16,950 and peak at $17,900 with all available options included. As for the range-topping Soul Sport 2.0L, it includes side sills, a rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels and unique front and rear fascias, and will start at $16,950 and end at $18,600 with all available options included.

Ask your dealer for new cars

The new Kia’s heavy camouflage prototype was caught on public roads. Its a 2010 Kia Soul Mini-MPV with a large panoramic roof. Inside the mini MPV uses the same three-gauge instrument panel and three-spoke steering wheel as the Soul, though the center console has been completely redesigned. Buyers should expect to find lots of clever folding seats and plenty of storage compartments.

Powertrain options will include 1.6-liter petrol and diesel engines, both producing an output of 126HP, while some markets will also get a 115HP 1.6-liter diesel and a 142HP 2.0-liter gasoline engine.

2010 Kia Soul Mini MPV The new mini-MPV will be manufactured by Kia’s sister brand Hyundai at the company’s new factory at Nosovice in the Czech Republic, although Korean versions are likely to be built in Korea.

Expect to see Kia’s little minivan making its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009.

Kia Soul fully revealed! The first official photos of Kia’s Soul were leaked into the net. The photos include for the first time the interior along with more technical details of the Soul. New model will to make its debut at the Paris Motor Show. The Kia’s subcompact Soul will be offered with a choice of two gasoline engines and one diesel engine with manual or automatic transmission.

The most powerful engine of the range will be a 2.0L gasoline unit producing 142 PS at 6,000 rpm and 186 Nm (137-lbs/ft) of torque at 4,600 rpm. This engine can be combined with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic. A smaller 1.6L gasoline engine generating 126 PS at 6,300 rpm and 156 Nm (115-lbs/ft) of torque at 4,200 rpm will be offered in most countries, while consumers in Europe and some other markets will also be able to order a 1.6L turbo diesel engine delivering 126 PS at 4,000 rpm and 255 Nm (188-lbs/ft) of torque at 2,000 rpm. Kia notes that some markets will get a 115 PS version of the diesel engine. -Continued

The Korean automaker describes its new model as an ‘urban crossover’ but leaving the marketing hype aside, the Soul is essentially a tall 5-door subcompact mini that manages to stand out thanks to its contemporary design that takes styling cues from crossover models.

The Soul’s overall length is 4,105 mm with a 2,550 mm wheelbase while the overall height is 1,610 mm. Kia says that the base of the windshield is 135 mm higher than a typical compact car while the ground clearance is raised by 45 mm. Despite its compact dimensions, the Korean automaker says that the Soul will ‘accommodate five large adults in genuine comfort’ thanks to its generous headroom (1020/1005 mm front/rear), legroom (1070/990 mm front/rear) and shoulder room (1403/1400 mm front/rear).

The Kia Soul cars destined for the U.S., European and other markets will be manufactured at the Kia Gwangju facility in Korea starting in November 2008.