Kia Soulster concept unveiled at Detroit auto show 2009

By Ben Pulman Motor Shows 12 January 2009 13:48 To rub salt into the wounds of the beleaguered Big Three, Korean manufacturer Kia unveiled its own version of the iconic American pick-up truck at the Detroit auto show. But rather than a ultilitarian flat-bed, the Soulster concept is something at the very other end of the scale, designed to drum up interest in the Soul (on which it's based) before the B-segment baby goes on sale later in 2009. The Soulster concept was penned at Kia’s LA design studio – where the original Soul concept was created – and while there are no current production plans, company insiders have said that the right reaction from American customers could see the Soulster become a reality.

Don’t text and drive says Volkswagen – very effectively (video)

Cinema goers in for a shock in VW’s don’t text and drive campaign We’re not the biggest fans of putting drivers in a bubble of concentration behind the wheel, which is what law makers seem to be trying to do. Don’t take a sip from that water bottle, don’t change the channel on the radio, don’t have a conversation with your passengers, don’t smoke, don’t take hands-free phone calls – in fact, don’t do anything but drive. But it’s a foolish trend as it’s the little things going on that keep drivers alert; focusing just on the driving is a sure fire way make drivers’ brains go in to a fug and lose concentration.

Classified Catch: 1979 Dodge frog dystopia shag carpet molester van

From the bowels of the earth--California via Texas, in this case--comes one of the most wonderfully appalling automotive creations we've seen in quite some time. Feast your eyes on the Van. Originally birthed as a 1979 Dodge B200, this claimed 31,000-mile example boasts a two-barrel carb 318 bolted to the requisite Torqueflite automatic, Cragar mags and a CB for callin' out the smokeys.