Last year, Kia pulled the wraps off the pro_cee'd Concept in Paris. The concept previewed the three-door iteration of the popular cee'd range. It gained copious amount of praises in the media and garnered lots of attention for the Korean automaker. The Pro-Cee'd joins the line-up consisting of the 5-door hatchback and the estate. A fourth model was planned to join the family. The ex_cee'd Concept, unveiled in Geneva, was Schreyer's first shot in Kia and the proposed cabrio variant. Kia later axed the plans for a production version.The Pro-Cee'd shares its look heavily from the 5-door hatch. However, the 3-door hot hatch is longer, lower and wider in every dimension than its conventional sibling, meaning the similarities are only visual. The concept to production transition took away some of the juice, but it's agreeably one of Kia's best. Powertrain options will be consistent with the 5-door, offering a 1.4L and 1.6L petrol, as well as a 1.6L diesel.
Other than a brief press release and the lone image above, Kia hasn't revealed any details of the newest lad in the Cee'd range. We're eager to see how the rear shaped up. Production is slated to initiate in November of this year, with sales "pro_cee'ding" in early 2008. Bear in mind that the Cee'd range is only available in Europe and Australia. So, that's the Ford Kuga, Fiat 500, and now the Kia Cee'd...all this week in our massive European wishlist. Continue reading to view the official press release.
[Source: Kia]
PRESS RELEASE: KIA cee'd THREE-DOOR REVEALED
Kia Motors Corporation has released the first preview image of its exciting new Kia three-door hatchback model which will make its World Premiere at this year's Frankfurt International Motor Show on 11 September. The new model will be named Pro-cee'd.
Based closely on the earlier 'pro_cee'd' concept shown at the Paris Motor Show in 2006, the new production model has been developed by Kia's design team in Europe under the direction of Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer.
"Longer, lower and lighter than its five-door sister car, the new Kia Pro-cee'd is going to be a great drive," enthused Mr Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. "Combining real style and genuine practicality, our new three-door cee'd is sure to delight existing Kia customers and attract a new group of European consumers who have not yet considered our brand."
Manufactured in Slovakia, Pro-cee'd will be the third member of the Kia cee'd family, joining the popular cee'd five-door and the soon to be released cee'd SW models to make Kia an especially strong challenger for C-segment sales in Europe.
Production of the Pro-cee'd model range is scheduled to begin in November with first customer sales during the early months of 2008.
