2014 Kia Soul “Red Zone” takes it to the house

Kia Motors America announced its first special edition for the second generation 2014 Soul, dubbed “Red Zone.” This quirky, boxy compact car will get a head-to-toe makeover, taking inspiration and design cues from the 2012 Chicago Auto Show favorite, the Track'ster concept.

The exterior of the Soul gets bright white paint, accented by pops of red. The grille, front and rear fascias and side skirts also will receive the distinguished red embellishments, adding to what Kia describes as “the aggressively styled body kit.” Custom 18-inch alloy wheels complete the “Red Zone” makeover.

The cabin of the Soul continues the “Red Zone” theme with red-stitching accents on the seats and dash as well as red piping on the black-carpeted floor mats. The shift knob, air-vent rings, dash speakers and center console have also been coated in the sporty red paint.

Power for the second generation special edition Soul comes from the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission, putting the total output at 164 hp.

As with Kia’s previous special editions, “Red Zone” will be produced in a limited quantity--2,000 to be exact. Pricing hasn’t been released yet, but if you’re into Kia’s whole “boxy compact whatchamacallit vehicle” type vibe, the special edition Souls arrive in dealerships in the first quarter of 2014.

By Natalie Sejnost