Kia Pro_cee’d

By Sarah Bradley

31st August 2007

The ‘teasing’ is over – Kia has spilled the beans on its new three-door hatch.

The Korean firm had previously released two taster pictures of the Pro_cee’d. But now, we can bring you a full set, including one of the interior.

Outside, a longer nose and reduced height give the hatch a much sleeker appearance than its five-door Cee’d brother. There’s a shallower grille, new-look headlamps, a wider, lower bumper with a prominent lip spoiler, deeper air intake and updated foglights. In addition, a raked windscreen, longer doors, a steeply rising waistline and a tailgate spoiler set the car apart.

Yet the Pro_cee’d is said to offer just as much versatility and practicality as the five-door. At 4,250mm long, Kia says it delivers class-leading passenger and load space, with generous legroom front and rear.

The hatch’s front doors open wider for improved access, and the 60:40-split rear bench has been reworked so that the seatbacks can be folded flat without removing the head restraints. It’s offered with the same five-strong engine range as the Cee’d – all of which comply with Euro IV emissions regulations. There are three transmission options as well.

As with the five-door and SW, it will come in a trio of spec choices.

There’s also an optional Sports Pack, bringing 17-inch alloy wheels, stiffer dampers, special trim with ‘tyre track’ fabric and alloy pedals. The Pro_cee’d will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in two weeks’ time, before going on sale early next year.

A high-performance variant is also likely to be added to the line-up at a later date. An insider at Kia has revealed to Auto Express that instead of a turbo petrol engine, this model will probably have a revised version of the 2.0-litre diesel tuned to around 180bhp.

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