SCOOP: Kia Readying a Facelift for the 2012 Soul

It appears that the Soul is the next vehicle in Kia�s list to receive an update. Caught here in testing in Germany by our spy photographers, the bagged-up ends do their job to hide the Soul�s stylistic upgrades with the only visible change being the redesigned exterior mirrors that house the turning lights.

However, it is expected that the Soul will take some cues from the new Picanto and Rio hatchbacks (both of which were revealed at the Geneva Motor Show) such as the pulled back headlamps and more pronounced bumpers. An interior rework may also be in the cards.

Currently, the Soul is offered in the States with two gasoline engines, a 1.6-liter unit with 122HP and a 2.0-liter delivering 142HP. In Europe, engine choices include a 1.6-liter turbo diesel with 126HP and a 1.6-liter petrol producing 124HP.

From what we�ve heard, there�s a good chance that in both regions, Kia will replace the standard 1.6-liter gasoline unit with the Veloster�s all-new 1.6-liter four-pot featuring direct-injection technology and an output of 138HP and 123 lb.-ft. at 4,850 rpm. Europe may also get the Hyundai-Kia Group�s newer 1.7-liter turbo diesel unit, offered in two states of tune.

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Geneva Preshow: 2012 Kia Rio Revealed in Detail, gets 1.2-liter Turbo Gasoline Engine

Kia's product assault continues with the presentation of the all-new Rio subcompact, which will receive its world premiere together with the new Picanto at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March.

The latest car to be revealed by Kia boasts a far slicker exterior design than the current Rio bringing it in line with the rest of South Korean company's passenger model range. There are no photos of the interior, but Kia says its newcomer "will deliver a high level of quality previously associated with larger models" along with a wider selection of trim options.

The Korean firm's Ford Fiesta-sized vehicle features a wheelbase extended by 70 mm (to 2,570 mm) compared to the outgoing Rio thus promising to offer improved passenger space together with an increased cargo capacity to 292 liters for the hatchback body style. Exterior dimensions changes include: +55 mm (overall length), -15 mm (height) and +25 mm (overall width).

In Europe, the firm's B-Segment contender will be offered with a comprehensive range of petrol and diesel engines including a 1.1-liter diesel unit delivering 70-horsepower and CO2 emissions from as low as 85 g/km.

But the big surprise is the announcement of an all-new 1.2-liter Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) that will be available from 2012, and which will offer the Koreans a significant advantage over its Japanese rivals.

Soon-Nam Lee, Director of Overseas Marketing for Kia, commented: �This new model is a big step forward. The Rio has always been successful, and with this new incarnation we have a car that people will want to buy for its looks.�

The new Rio will go on sale in Europe as a 5-door model this fall, with a 3-door to be introduced into the range in early 2012. Pricing and full range details will be announced nearer the on-sale date.

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VIDEO: Remote Control Cars Drifting on Realistic Looking Miniature Road is Pure Ecstasy

If you enjoyed Phil's video of the RC drifters from the recent Tokyo Auto Salo, then you're in for a really special treat with this 4 minute-long clip shot at the 2010 Korea RC Street Drift Challenge. By far this is the most amazing RC drift setup that we have ever seen. Just follow the jump and you'll see what we mean.

Kudos to Nick for the tip!

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Hyundai Sells 3.6 Million Vehicles in 2010, up 16.3% from 2009, Net Profits Soar 78%

Hyundai continues its juggernaut-like growth breaking one record after the other. In 2010, the South Korean carmaker not only replaced Toyota as Europe�s best-selling Asian brand and passed the 500,000 sales mark in the US for the first time since entering the market in 1986, but the company also posted record sales and impressive profits.

Not including affiliate Kia Motor's results, Hyundai alone recorded global sales of 3,612,487 units (domestic plants: 1,730,682, overseas plants: 1,881,805) in 2010, which represents a 16.3 percent increase from a year earlier.

Sales revenue rose 15.4 percent to 36.8 trillion won (US$ 33 billion) from a year earlier thanks to the introduction of new cars and an improved product mix, while operating profit also soared 44.4% to 3.2 trillion won (US$2.8 billion). Net profit increased 77.8 percent to 5.3 trillion won (US$4.8 billion).

South Korea's largest automaker has set even higher goals for 2011, stating that it plans to "reinforce its internal competitiveness" and achieve a global sales target of 3.9 million units.

2012 Kia Picanto: HD Photo Gallery and Official Brochure of South Korean Model

As pointed out by a Carscoop reader in a previous post, Kia has released images of the domestic market version of its Picanto city car, which will be sold as the Morning in South Korea. From the looks of it, there won't be any notable differences between the local and European market specification Picanto, which will receive its world premiere at the Geneva Salon in the beginning of March. You can read our previous post for more details including the powertrain options here. For the high resolution image gallery and the official brochure of the KDM Morning, follow the jump below.

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