Kia Soul'ster Concept at 2009 Detroit Auto Show

• Looks like: Kia is treading into Suzuki Samurai territory
• Defining characteristics: Kia Soul size, open truck bed
• Ridiculous features: Square steering wheel
• Chance of being mass-produced: Not likely; depends if consumers demand it

The Kia Soul’ster is a small-footprint, front-wheel-drive, two-door garden truck derived from Kia’s new 2010 Soul, a car-based compact crossover powered by either a 1.6- or 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

The Soul’ster is a radical departure from what Kia originally wanted to bring to the 2009 Detroit auto show.

“About a year ago we were actually considering building a proper pickup,” said chief designer Thomas Kearns. “We even started a concept for (the Detroit auto show). But with the economy we decided it wasn’t a good time to do a standard truck.”

Instead, Kearns and the Kia design team rethought what the concept could be. It had to be sporty — not a work truck.

“It’s a cross between a convertible and a pickup truck,” said Peter Schreyer, Kia’s senior executive vice president and chief design officer.

Kia is pitching the Soul’ster as a lifestyle truck, meant to haul surfboards rather than plywood. It has a tailgate and a cargo box, plus two fold-flat stowable seats behind the open-air cab that can be raised to provide seating for up to four people. The interior is Spartan, but it’s highlighted by interesting design cues, including a square steering wheel and seats cantilevered off a center dividing hump.

What are the Soul’ster’s odds for production?

“With the design team, we’d be very happy if we could build it,” Schreyer said. “But we need to wait for feedback and reaction from the show. You never know. It would be great to do it, though.”

By Mike Levine, PickupTrucks.com