In April, Kia, will introduce a new vehicle to North America, the "Soul," which is being described as an "urban crossover" aimed at capitalizing on the rising popularity of smaller vehicles.

At 161 inches in length, the Soul is 13.4 inches shorter than the Ford Focus and has been selling in South Korea for $12,237. It is a tall and somewhat boxy vehicle, a design Kia hopes will appeal to younger drivers.

"Youthful" features include an optional eight-speaker audio package with speakers at the bottom of the doors set to glow on a level with the intensity of the music.

In the U.S., the Soul will be offered with a 1.6-liter, 126 hp engine or a 2-liter, 142 hp version. The smaller engine will offer a manual transmission only while drivers will have a choice of manual or automatic on the 2-liter.

Kia has set a goal of 50,000 units in the North American market annually for the crossover that is assembled in Gwangju, South Korea.

Peter Schreyer, design chief for Kia, speaking at a press conference said the Soul was intended to sharpen the brand image of Kia. With a new "tiger" grill, the Soul should be instantly recognizable. Schreyer described the grill as "three-dimensional -- like a face, not just a surface with a mouth drawn on it."