By Nat Shirley
Thursday, Feb 9th, 2012 @ 12:15 am

Kia used the Chicago Auto Show to introduce the Track’ster concept, essentially a Soul that has been highly modified inside and out for a singular purpose: generating big smiles out on the track.

To start things off, Kia deep-sixed the Soul’s normal powerplant and stuck a 250 horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four under the hood. Rather than messing with a trick suspension system like Ford’s RevoKnuckle setup to prevent torque steer, the Korean automaker decided to fit the Track’ster with a proper all-wheel-drive system to put the power to the ground. Shifting duties are handled by a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox, while a track-tuned suspension and 14-inch front and 13.6-inch rear Brembo disc brakes squeezed by six- and four-pot calipers round out the performance mods.

Though the standard Soul is already a fairly funky looking machine, Kia gave the Track’ster a look all its own by ditching the Soul’s rear doors and changing nearly every body panel. At the front, a beefy lower intake houses enormous fog lights, above which sit new headlights and a long, narrow grille. Large fender flares adorn the flanks while around back are afterburner-like exhaust pipes and taillights uniquely housed behind the glass of the rear window. Overall, the Track’ster has a purposeful, hunkered-down look with only a sloping roofline hinting at its relationship to the Soul.

Despite the lack of rear doors, the Track’ster actually rides on a five-inch longer wheelbase than the Soul. Inside are two well-bolstered seats upholstered in suede and, in place of the rear seat, an equipment tray designed to hold helmets, racing suits, tools and other track gear.

Kia says that there are currently no plans to put the Track’ster into production, though it stopped short of saying the hot hatch will never make it to showrooms. We think the Track’ster’s engine could well provide the basis for a future turbocharged Soul model.

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