Car importers question the US Senate’s proposal to give $10,000 credit to people who would hand over their old motor vehicles in exchange for newer, more fuel efficient models.

This proposal is tagged the Harkin-Stabenow amendment, and most US lawyers have reason to believe that it violates important aspects of the World Trade Organization rules, as well as the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Car manufacturing and dealing companies are fearful about the effects of this move on the US economy. With the new amendment, there’s a big possibility that car sales will drop drastically this year. The US happens to hold a big chunk of the world’s car manufacturing industry.

The other side of the coin

On the plus side, a lot of environmentalists and households are excited about the immediate effect of this amendment. Most people refuse to hand-over their 10-year-old faithful for newer, cleaner models simply because they can’t afford to pay for a new car.

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The Kia Soul’ster was introduced at last month’s Detriot Auto Show as a mere concept vehicle, but due to the unexpectedly strong reaction of the crowd, this small yet very stylish two-door convertible-pick up combination is now in line for production.

Alex Fedorak, Kia Cars America spokesperson beamed at the wonderful response they got for the Kia Soul’ster. “The response was so overwhelming that Kia decided that it needs to take a closer look,” said Fedorak. “It is clearly a vehicle that was built as a concept in a fashion that was production-capable. We have been doing that more and more lately.”

While it is based on the bulky 2010 Kia Soul, a five-door hatchback, the Kia Soul’ster is aimed on a younger target market with limited budget. The sporty and outdoorsy design is the work of Kia Design Central America of Irvine, California with Tom Kearns as the lead designer and Mike Torpey in charge of the initial rendering. The roof covers only the front seats of the car leaving the rear seats covered only by a roll bar, which could get a little untidy during rainy season. But the rear seats are foldable giving the Soul’ster the cargo capabilities of a pick-up truck.

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