Kia shows off new cee'd at Geneva

 

David Wilkins
Thursday 08 March 2012 17:42 GMT
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Kia has unveiled the five-door hatchback and estate versions of its Golf-sized cee'd at the Geneva Motor Show.

This second-generation cee'd is vital to Kia's future success as it replaces the first-generation car of the same name, first introduced in 2007, the company's first product developed with the demands of European customers in mind. It was also assembled in Europe, at a new factory in Zilina in Slovakia, which is home to the new model, too.

The most obvious difference between the latest car and its predecessor is visual. The old car predated the arrival of Kia's current chief designer, Peter Schreyer, previously of Audi, and the new one reflects much more clearly the distinctive identity he is stamping in the company's products. It carries the now-familiar distinctive Kia grille with a pinched-in centre section, and is a lot more curvy in both five-door hatchback and estate forms.

Two petrol engines are being offered – a 1.4-litre (100PS) and a 1.6-litre with gasoline direct injection (GDI) that delivers 135 PS – and three diesels, one with a capacity of 1.4-litres (90PS) and two with a capacity of 1.6 litres (110 and 128 PS). These options mirror those offered in the cee'd's sister car, the Hyundai i30, although the case of the i30, the GDI engine isn't included in the UK line-up. Gearboxes are six-speed manuals and automatics, and the GDI is also available with a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual. The new cee'd, like the old, will also be available with Kia's energy-saving Eco Dynamics features such as stop-start and low rolling resistance tyres.

UK prices, specifications and engine options will be announced when the new cee'd is launched here in May.

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