AIMS: Kia confirms Track’ster concept for Sydney

KIA has confirmed the sporty, Soul-based Track’ster concept for the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney next week.

The three-door Track’ster will be shown alongside the new Sorento seven-seat SUV, which launches here this week, and some other as-yet-unconfirmed surprises that GoAuto understands will provide a preview of future products and showcase Kia’s technology.

Kia Motors Australia (KMAu) national PR manager Kevin Hepworth told GoAuto at the Sorento launch that while the Track’ster is not confirmed for production it would be looked at for import as a halo model if given the green light.

“At the Paris motor show Peter Schreyer said both the Track’ster and the GT were still alive as production cars ... nothing is confirmed but they are still on his wish list,” said Mr Hepworth.

“We would certainly look at them (for import). Track’ster would be an attractive production car if it translates as it is now.” Mr Hepworth described KMAu’s motivation for bringing the Track’ster to Sydney was “to underscore the excitement of Kia’s design”.

“We want to emphasise that Kia has a desire to produce something different and exciting and is prepared to show those ideas ... ultimately motor shows should be about having a bit of fun.” The Track’ster was first shown at Chicago earlier this year and again at Geneva in March – and the Sydney show will be its Southern Hemisphere debut.

Mr Hepworth said the next-generation Soul is due to be revealed next year and could arrive in Australian showrooms by the end of 2013.

The Track’ster sits on a stretched version of the Soul’s floorpan, stretched 20mm to 2570mm.

The overall width expands 133mm to 1918mm – the latter evident by the blistered fenders and HRE-K1 19-inch wheels wrapped in 245/40 front and 285/35 rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tyres.

Lowered ‘track-tuned’ sports suspension is fitted, along with large Brembo vented and cross-drilled disc brakes measuring 355mm diameter up front (gripped by six-piston callipers) and 345mm at the rear, with four-piston callipers.

Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends its 186kW to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox and an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system.

Kia executives say that despite its wild appearance, the Track’ster would be relatively easy to put into production as it is based on existing architecture.