Sporty Cee’d scores on doors

	The Pro-cee’d will go head-to-head with established class contenders such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Renaultsport Mégane

Kia has revealed its latest challenger in the hugely competitive compact family hatchback class – the three-door version of the Cee’d.

Bosses have released this official picture ahead of the launch of the car – called the Pro-cee’d – at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The sporty newcomer follows hot on the heels of the five-door and SW estate versions of the family model. Only the bonnet and front wings are shared with the other Cee’d body­styles, and a sharp waistline and pronounced wheelarches front and rear give the three-door a racier look.

Senior vice president of Kia Motors Europe, Jean-Charles Lievens, told Auto Express: “The new Pro-cee’d is longer, lower and lighter than its five-door sister car, and promises to be great to drive.” It will share its engine line-up with other models in the range, with 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol units, as well as a 1.6-litre turbodiesel. A more powerful 2.0-litre turbo – dev­eloped in conjunction with Hyundai for its i30 hatch – is also planned.

The Pro-cee’d will go head-to-head with established class contenders such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Renaultsport Mégane, and will share its engine with Kia’s Audi TT-rivalling coupé, which we revealed in Issue 971. The concept version of this two-door will join the Pro-cee’d on the firm’s stand at Frankfurt.

Production of the new three-door will start at Kia’s plant in Zilina, Slovakia, in November, and the first UK customers are expected to take delivery of their cars early next year. Details have yet to be confirmed, but prices for the range will be similar to the five-door model.