LA Auto Show: Nissan Cube and Kia Soul
Posted By faboomama On November 21, 2008 @ 7:32 am In Driving, Events, Shopping, Transportation | Comments Disabled
Can the streets of LA handle more automobile hipness?. Quite a few new razzle-dazzle cars were introduced at the LA Auto Show [1], but my eye picked out two that will possibly be big hits in my North East Los Angeles neighborhood.
First we have the 2008 Nissan Cube. Already available in Japan, the Cube is about the same size as a Honda Element, but infinitely cooler looking. They say it was inspired by a raindrop and they’ve carried that theme throughout the vehicle from the roof lining to the speakers, cup holders and even the asymmetrical rear window.
[2]2008 Nissan Cube
This vehicle, which Nissan calls “A mobile device”, is touted as a lounging pad, with reclineable passenger seats, way too many speakers and…mood lighting. Highly customizable with several of Nissan’s awesome colors, the car is very much geared to the Web 2.0 crowd. There’s the almost standard Bluetooth integration, but the car also features mp3/ipod integration. You can see more photos here [3] or at Nissan’s website [4].
The other vehicle unveiled today, was the Kia Soul. Where the Nissan Cube seems geared toward tech-savvy buyers, the Kia Soul seems to be made by tech-savvy buyers. The Kia booth offers up not only a number (562.277.2947) you can text to have your messages shown on jumbo screen [5] to the crowds at the LA Auto Show, but also a scannable QR-code [6] located in several places of their display so you can get info on your mobile phone, if capable.
[7]2008 Kia Soul
The Soul comes off as the love-child of the MINI Cooper and the Cube. It is definitely smaller than the Cube, on the Scion scale, but a little cuter. Like the Cube, the Soul has Bluetooth and mp3 capabilities, but this car also has standard SIRIUS™ Satellite Radio & multiple USB ports, ideal for webslingers on the go. The car only had 3 interior options, one being houndstooth, but a nice collection of exterior colors in ‘edgy’ names like Alien or Molten. More photos of the Kia Soul can be viewed here [8] or on Kia’s website [9].
Related posts:
Article printed from Los Angeles Metblogs: http://la.metblogs.com
URL to article: http://la.metblogs.com/2008/11/21/la-auto-show-nissan-cube-and-kia-soul/
URLs in this post:
[1] LA Auto Show: http://www.laautoshow.com/
[2] Image: http://flickr.com/photos/anikascreations/3044804536/
[3] here: http://flickr.com/photos/anikascreations/tags/nissancube/
[4] Nissan’s website: http://www.nissanusa.com/cube/?dcp=ppn.28434549.&dcc=0.205796030#/en/home/
[5] jumbo screen: http://flickr.com/photos/anikascreations/3043969915/
[6] scannable QR-code: http://flickr.com/photos/anikascreations/3043969723/
[7] Image: http://flickr.com/photos/anikascreations/3043786893/
[8] here: http://flickr.com/photos/anikascreations/tags/kiasoul/
[9] Kia’s website: http://soul.kiamotors.com/
[10] Win Tix to LA Auto Show: http://la.metblogs.com/2009/11/24/win-tix-to-la-auto-show/
[11] Celebrate 20 yrs with 99 Cent Soul Food Buffet: http://la.metblogs.com/2009/03/05/21996/
[12] Tonight at Black Maria Gallery: Mutation, A Vinyl Toy Show: http://la.metblogs.com/2009/08/15/tonight-at-black-maria-gallery-mutation-a-vinyl-toy-show/
[13] LA’s own 99 Cent Chef on KTLA Morning Show Thursday: http://la.metblogs.com/2009/01/14/las-own-99-cent-chef-on-ktla-morning-show-thursday/
[14] See Nissan’s First Zero Emissions Car This Weekend: http://la.metblogs.com/2009/11/09/see-nissans-first-zero-emissions-car-this-weekend/
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