The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded the 2010 Honda Insight, Toyota Prius and Kia Soul “Top Safety Pick” labels. As many of you are probably well aware by now, to qualify, the vehicle must earn of “Good” in front- and side-impact crash tests and feature stability control.

Stability control is standard on the Toyota Prius and Kia and is available high-end Insight EX. All three cars come standard with side-curtain airbags.

“The latest results show that consumers who want good fuel economy can also get a high level of safety,” said Russ Rader, an institute spokesman, in an interview with Automotive News. “Because there are so many small cars that test well, there’s no reason to settle for a small car with less-than-stellar safety ratings.”

Other small cars with the rating are the 2009 Subaru Impreza, 2009 Scion xB, four-door 2009 Honda Civic, 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer, 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit, 2010 Toyota Corolla and two-door 2009 Ford Focus.

- By: Omar Rana

We’re close to wrapping up this lovely Aug. 11, which means its that time of the day where we gather up our random thoughts or findings from around the Internet.

2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe GXP test-drive updates: Well, I finally go around to setting the perfect seating position in the car and I have to say – it changes the whole driving experience – especially in a car with a rough clutch. If I were to give interior quality a letter grade it would be ‘B’. Honestly, I just expect more from a car priced over $33,000 (yes, it’s understood that the Solstice starts at $24,275). However, most of the interior quality is overlooked by the fun-to-drive feeling.

Ferrari 430 Spyder catches fire: A Ferrari 430 Spyder in San Diego, CA went up flames. Reason for this Ferrari burning to crisp? Engine fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Kia Soul’s Go-Hamster-Go App on Facebook: Want to kill some time? Check it out. It’s a bit addicting.

The 2010 Kia Soul is now on sale at Kia dealerships near you with prices starting at $13,995. Here is one of the first Kia Soul commercials featuring four hamsters driving the Soul and messing around with some of its many features.

What should you take away from the commercial? Everyone else in the world is driving around in a hamster wheel while you… well, you’ve got soul.

Click through for the commercial.

2010 Kia Soul:

2010 Kia Soul:

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Earlier this morning we saw Fifth Gear’s review of the 2009 BMW 7-Series. We now have their review of the new Kia Soul.

The 2010 Kia Soul will go on sale in the U.S. later this year with prices starting at $13,995 for the entry level 122-hp 1.6 4-cylinder model. Pricing will run all the way up to $17,900 for a fully-loaded 142-hp 2.0L 4-cylinder. Click here for more pricing details on the 2010 Soul.

Follow the jump for the video and the high-res image gallery.

2010 Kia Soul:

2010 Kia Soul:

Kia will be working with chassis expert Lotus on all future models to improve their ride and handling – well at least for Kia’s that will be sold in the UK. A spokesman for Kia said that the new strategy will provide an upgraded suspension that is tuned specifically for UK Roads.

The first car to receive the treatment will be the new Soul. It will get higher compression and rebound rates plus adapted bump tops to help the car from bottoming out on large potholes.

The spokesman said that the changes will help stop the harshness of the road getting into the cabin while improving steering feel.

2009 Kia Soul:

Source: CAR

Kia today released a second teaser image of its Soul-based concept that it will unveil next week at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week. Kia says that the concept will show “more than just a re-packaging treatment” and will demonstrate the flexibility of the original Soul compact car.

So far rumor has it that it will be a coup version of the Soul but there is also some speculation that Kia may show a hybrid version of the Soul. From the new teaser image we can see that the concept will carry the “Soulster” badge.

The new 2010 Kia Soul will go on sale in April of 2009.

Kia Soulster Concept:

Everyone’s soul has a price and now, so does Kia’s Soul. Kia has dropped the pricing details on the new 2010 Kia Soul which will start at $13,995. That number is for the base model that will come with a 122-hp 1.6L 4-cylinder engine, AC, AM/FM/CD/MP3, USB and AUX jacks, power windows and locks, ABS and ESC and 6 airbags.

Moving up a notch will be the Kia Soul + (plus) which starts at $14,950 with manual transmission and $15,900 with an automatic. Power comes from a 2.0L 4-cylinder making a total of 142-hp. The Kia Soul + will come with everything that base Kia Soul does plus 16-inch alloy wheels, rear disc brakes, cruise control, keyless entry, power outside mirrors and Bluetooth.

There will be two range-topper models including the Soul ! (exclaim) and Soul Sport. Both models come standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded audio package, fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and a metal finish interior trim. The Soul ! also offers a sunroof, read/black interior trim, sport cloth seats and a metal pedals. The Soul Sport a new front and rear fascia, side skirts, a rear spoiler and a sport tuned suspension. Pricing for both models starts at $16,950 and $17,900 respectively.

Follow the jump for the high-res image gallery.

2010 Kia Soul:

Kia announced today that it will unveil a “new take” on the Soul at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. Kia says that the new concept will display “more than just a re-packaging treatment” and will demonstrate the flexibility of the original Soul compact car.

The new 2010 Kia Soul will go on sale in April of 2009. Kia will offer a 142-hp 2.0L 4-cylinder version of the car with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.

It was rumored earlier this year that we will see a hybrid version of the Soul at the 2008 Paris Motor Show; however, that never happened. So we’re guess that next month in Detroit we’ll see a hybrid or maybe even a coupe version of the Soul.

Kia Soul Concept for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show:

The Kia Soul will make its stateside debut at the 2008 LA Auto Show as a 2010 model. Of course, we are never lucky to get any diesel options here so Kia will only offer the Soul only with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine making 142-hp. The engine will be mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.

Kia is planning on producing 136,000 units of the Soul annually at it’s Gwangju plant. Kia will ship over 50,000 of those the U.S. with sales to kick-off in April 2009. Pricing details will be released closer to launch date.

According to recent reports, Kia is also working on a hybrid version of the Soul. No confirmation has been made whether the hybrid Soul will make it to the U.S.

2009 Kia Soul:

Source: Kia-World

Kia will be taking over the 2008 Paris Motor Show next week with its new five-door Soul hatchback. According to AutoWeek, Kia will also show a hybrid concept of the Soul in Paris.

The Kia Soul Hybrid Concept is powered by a 1.6L engine and a 20-hp electric motor. Fuel-consumption is further reduced with the use of start/stop technology and regenerative braking. Kia will also show a cee’d hybrid that shares the same powetrain as the Soul along with the Sportage FCEV (fuel-cell electric vehicle).

About 50,000 units of the Kia Soul will come to North America next year. Power for the U.S. Soul model will come from a 2.0 liter engine producing a total of 140-hp.

Click through for more images.

2009 Kia Soul:

Source: AutoWeek

Following the bits and pieces - Kia has fully revealed the 2009 Kia Soul which will make its world premier at the Paris Motor Show next month. The car will hit the European market next year in February.

The 2009 Kia Soul will be available with a choice of two 1.6 liter engines – one petrol and one diesel - both producing 124-hp. Both will come with a manual transmission as standard and an automatic as an option. The diesel produces 188 lb-ft of torque while the petrol produces 115 lb-ft.

The 2009 Kia Soul will also hit the U.S. market with a 2.0 liter engine producing a total of 140-hp.

Click through for more pictures and the press release.

2009 Kia Soul:

Press Release:

Kia’s sharply-stylish new segment-busting Kia Soul is set to win over minds as well as hearts at the Paris Salon de l’Automobile in October 2008 with confirmation that the urban crossover will come to Europe next year with a choice of fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines.

Kia Soul will go on sale in mainland Europe next February with a choice 126 ps diesel and petrol engines based on the DOHC engines already fitted to the hugely successful, European-built, Kia cee’d – with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, depending on model. Right-hand drive production is due to start in March 2009.

The diesel engine generates 126 ps at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 255 Nm at 2,000 rpm. The all-aluminium petrol engine also produces 126 ps at 6,300 rpm and 156 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm.

“The Kia Soul is a brand new urban crossover car packed with chic design, liberating ideas and cavernous passenger space for active people with busy lives,” enthused Paul Philpott, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Limited.

“And we can’t wait to see it on UK roads in the Spring of 2009 where its unique modern looks and strong individual appeal will make it a ‘must-have’ for everyone from young singles and couples to more mature motorists who insist on putting fun into their driving,” he added.

Kia Soul is a five-door hatchback with front-wheel drive, a high roofline and an unusually long wheelbase. The key elements behind Kia Soul’s striking appearance are its vertical measurements. Overall height is 1,610 mm but the base of the windscreen is 135 mm higher than a typical compact car, the hip-points are 120 mm higher and the ground clearance is raised by 45 mm.

Access to the new Kia Soul’s spacious interior is remarkably easy and the cabin will deliver head, leg and shoulder room that matches or beats many larger vehicles. Generous headroom (1020/1005 mm front/rear), legroom (1070/990 mm front/rear) and shoulder room (1403/1400 mm front/rear) will ensure Kia Soul can easily adapt to the changing demands of its owner when pressed into giving friends or family a lift!

Looking ahead to the Paris Show debut, Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer, Kia Motors Europe, commented: “Kia Soul is about surprise and style and the experience of sitting in the Kia Soul is unique. First impressions will make a big impact. Tall doors and high-mounted seats make for easy access and an airy interior, yet the ‘laid-back’ dashboard design, triple dial instrument cluster and thick-rimmed steering wheel create an unusual combination of spaciousness for passengers and cosiness for the driver generating a very special ambience.”

Kia Soul will be manufactured at Gwangju facility in Korea from November 2008. In the USA and several non-European markets a 2-litre, 142 ps petrol engine will also be available.