It’s Carnival time for Kia’s Meriva!

The party is just getting started at Kia, with an all-new model called the Carnival joining the line-up.

Our spies have grabbed these pictures of the five-door, which has previously been labelled the Cee’d Plus. It’s a completely new model, built on the Korean company’s B-segment platform. That’s the same one being used for the upcoming Soul, as well as a bigger family MPV called the Rio, due in 2011.

When the Carnival goes on sale in 2010, it will set its sights on the Vauxhall Meriva as a well built, functional and family-friendly MPV. It will also have plenty of head and legroom, according to our sources, who claim the early stages of testing are nearly over.

Even though this garishly coloured prototype is wearing a heavy disguise, the front end is visible for the first time, while it’s also possible to make out the shape of the rear. And the new car looks just as stylish as the Soul.

The appearance of this model reveals more about Kia’s long-term product plans. Bosses expect small people carriers to grow in popularity across European markets in the years ahead, and are tailoring the line-up to meet demand.

Insiders have revealed the MPV will get a healthy range of engines to ensure it can compete with class-leading rivals, so expect a strong mix of petrol and diesel units.

While the Soul is due to make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show next month, the wraps aren’t likely to be taken off the Carnival officially until the Frankfurt expo in the autumn of 2009.

When the car goes on sale in the UK soon after that, prices are set to start at around £11,000.