Dongfeng Kia's Soul has Chinese name: "Show You"

Shanghai, February 25 (Gasgoo.com) Dongfeng Yueda Kia, a joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Corp and S. Korea's Kia Motors Corp, yesterday announced the unique Chinese name of its recently launched Kia crossover Soul: "Xiu Er (秀尔)" which literally and figuratively means "Show You" in Chinese, media reported.

The Kia Soul crossover made by the joint venture in China was launched two months ago but its sales have not been as hot as expected, and now the company has come up with this aggressive, dynamic name to promote this car in the Chinese market, as something "to show the personality and style of its buyers / drivers."

The locally made "Show You" crossover for Chinese buyers has the 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter options, with the retail price starting from 80,000 yuan ($11,700). The launch of its Soul crossover was expected to help the Korean carmaker meet the soaring demand for Kia vehicles.

In 2009, Dongfeng Yueda Kia sold 241,386 vehicles, up 70% year on year, and last month the company saw its sales increasing 242% from a year earlier, the biggest growth among auto joint ventures in China in the month. It aims to sell 330,000 cars this year.

Dongfeng Yueda Kia currently also produces the compact Kia Forte (new Cerato), subcompact Rio, mid-sized Optima, Sportage SUV and Carnival MPV. The venture plans to launch a new Kia SUV in October.