According to a report by Reuters, the Chinese government has suspended the importation of Hyundai and Kia products from South Korea. The importation ban allegedly stems from complaints filed by dealers that the automaker violated anti-trust laws in China by throwing more support behind its own dealers and thus limiting the support offered to independent retailers.

A Hyundai spokesperson confirmed that the automaker has not received import permits since mid-September, but that the Chinese government and Hyundai are working to resolve the matter.

Click above for high-res gallery of the Kia Soul

So the Kia VG mule that has kept spy photographers busy the last few weeks has now been given a computer animated face and body. It's a nice looking ride, though has a surprising amount in common with the Hyundai Genesis... which means we also see, well, a lot of other cars in it. But that's not a bad thing, really, because the result is a tasty little creation, especially coming from Kia. The lines are a touch more forceful than those on the Genesis, which goes along with Kia being the sporting brand, or so they say. If the final version looks even close to this rendering, and they give it performance to match... well, then Kia will have taken a giant leap forward. Thanks for the tip, miha!

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Kia Soul

In the lead up to the Kia Soul's production debut at the Paris Motor Show, we've seen dozens of images, a trio of concepts and a spy shot or two, but today we finally get a taste of what Kia's answer to the Scion xB will be packing underhood.

A glimpse inside the Kia Soul has revealed a lot of black tape and some shiny knobs, but nothing that's any cause for alarm. In fact, if lit properly -- that is, lit cool enough to please the demographic the car is aiming at -- it should be pretty swish inside. The center pod looks to keep things quite simple, but we would like to know what the button-like appendage above the radio screen opens; just a cubby, or navigation? The tape on the top of the dash is hiding quite a few lumps -- we would expect the semicircle up top to be interesting, while the bands over the passenger area are anyone's guess. Also of note: the Soul appears to have an enormous key fob for just two buttons...

Click above to see the Kia Soul in a kaleidoscope of colors

Click above for high-res gallery of the Kia Forte

Click above for high-res gallery of spy shots