Very cool.
Surfing and automobiles have gone together like peanut butter and chocolate since Californians culturally appropriated the Sport of Kings from Hawaiians just over a century ago. From the 1950s Plymouth Woodie to the 1996 Toyota Landcruiser to the 2018 Porsche Panamera, cars and surfing, surfing and cars.
The possible best ever, though, a surprise out of Korea where Kia has just released what is being described as “every surfer’s dream machine.”
Kia’s Soul EV Boardmasters Edition, not currently available in the United States, was produced in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s Boardmasters Surfing and Music Festival and promises, “a 64.0-kWh battery feeding a 201-horsepower electric motor powering the front wheels, new 16-inch white steel wheels shod in 265/75 R16 Maxxis Bighorn tires, which required redesigned wheel arches.”
What’s more, according to Car and Driver, “There is also steel roof rack that holds a pair of 7’6 Tahe Bic Malibu surfboards and raises the Soul’s height to 76.8 inches. The rack includes a pair of LED spotlights and a solar panel to help recharge the battery pack while you’re out riding the waves.”
Though, watch out as, “Kia acknowledged that these changes would negatively impact the Soul EV’s 280-mile range (on Europe’s WLTP testing cycle).”
Sold yet?
I don’t know why not but, while you’re here, what is the greatest surf car you’ve ever owned?
Mine was a 2018 Porsche Panamera.
I’m wearing BeachGrit trunks in this Porsche ad campaign, in case you were wondering. The trunk (boot) had ample room and with one seat pushed down, children’s faces smashed into windows, could easily fit two 5’11 Channel Islands Twin Pins (buy here).
Very cool.
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My favorite surf vehicle was my old VW Vanagon, perfect for mini surf trips and not a bad stabin cabin when the ladies felt like getting their freak on and a little sand in the crack of her #ss.
I drove a Kia Soul for about three days, and I would never own one. Terrible ride.
I think i’ve had a few solid rigs; a converted van(bed, interior board rack, etc.), an old Saab 900 3-door w/ roof rack and currently an old Tundra access cab, no rack. IMO, the best surf rig starts with 4 people being able to gear up without waiting. The quad-cab pickup with a ladder rack for boards is tough to beat. Everybody can have access to gear in the pickup bed at the same time. Limited digging. A bedcap with hinged side windows can also work but a lot of new pickups have bedwalls that are too high for some people to reach over for retrieving a wetsuit, etc. The lifted ground clearance isn’t mandatory IMO. Most people arent off-roading to a break unless you consider hopping a curb to park on a sidewalk or something. AmIright??
No surfer ever dreamed of surfing a BIC
Throw in some açaí bowl holders, and I’m in
Lots of carefully worded “retirements” lately. I smell rebel tour.
Edit: and dammit this better be the comments for Jeremy Flores and not some other topic.
MY choice: 1990 Citroen CX Estate in off-white. A surf cars goal is to make you cooler than you already are. This cars got it. Hydraulic suspension, infinity steering wheel, digital speedo. Breaks down as you are leaving allowing you to surf again and again.
That was a classic year for Toyota 4X4 Runner. I still have my ’93 Hi-Lux, 4X4, 3.0L, 6 cyl, stick, all stock, no lift, Kevlar sidewall rock rubber and 3 black labs in the bed.
My early 90’s 4wd mazda mpv was the best surf car I’ve ever had. Nice cars are better for everything else but they suck for surfing.
I still think you can tell a newbie by the way they put their boards on their racks.
P.S.
the greatest surf car I’ve ever owned?
Easy, V-dub pop top camper– still have one.
You can tell how good someone is by how they hold their board.
Currently rocking a 1982 Volvo Wagon that came with 1960s Aloha Surf racks and an Apple sticker(throws up a little in mouth). I removed the Apple sticker and racks(which I sold rust, stripped screws and all for $130 on eBay) and just stick the board and dog in the back. This beauty came with factory cassette player and FM radio that gets at least 6 stations. The cassette player made me dig out all the mix tapes I made as a teenager so I could hear the Smiths segue into Doug E Fresh into the Dead Kennedy’s. One day, after I hit the lottery I will add a real stereo and maybe some AC. She’s made 100+ trips (of no more than 70 miles) to Bolsa Chica, Oceanside and San Onofre trails. I assume she’s a beast on the highway but since both the speedometer and odometer are broken I am not sure. I paid 5 grand in 2012 but you can have her today for 15…..sheepskin seat covers included. Cash only. Sold as is.
I got a pair of those racks hanging up in the shed. Might have to auction those bad boys off? Or just keep em for another 20 years?
there was sixty nine comments, but I wrecked that by doing this comment
I still think you can tell a newbie by the way they put their boards on the racks.
Skoda Superb wagon
If it moves and it shouldn’t…duct tape.
If it doesn’t move and it should…hammer.
1990 ish Ford F 250 4wd, king cab. Before the electronic engine control. A local mechanic down in Baja could pull McGyver shit on those babies if u broke down
That’s the generation with the square headlights and flat grill I believe, love those.
Didn’t that Porsche lead you to a slap by a yellow beanie wearing bearded fellow media member?
If it comes with the 2 Bic 7’6″s I’m sold.
That girly blue Porsche Panamera is the ultimate chick car. Does your wife let you drive it sometimes Chas? Or do you just retrieve her purse from the trunk?
Oh the blue was just for photo shoot. We got a white one then sold it after a few years and was worst decision of my life.
By “we” you mean your wife payed for it?
Don’t kept shame him
Gotta be honest, I would love to have a chick buy everything for me too.
I’ve been there. It’s fantastic
Love my 4X4 Ram! But, my ’76 Baja Bug w/roof racks embarrassed a lot of 4X4’s in her day down in Mex’! All you need is a few screwdrives/ratchet set/duct tape. Fixed that car on the side of the road.