Strange names aside, Kia's rapid launch of new cars must be raising a few well-established eyebrows. Alongside the sensible new cee'd five-door and station wagon (both making their world debuts in production format), Kia will display a new concept on its
Paris Show stand next week called pro_cee'd.
Usually, manufacturers show us a concept car and if we like it, they make it, but Kia's philosophy is different, with the pro_cee'd concept designed
after the new three-door version of the cee'd was signed off for production. Essentially the concept is a teaser.
You can ignore the fancy "Cashew" paintwork and dramatic 19-inch alloys, but underneath is the basic shape of the new three-door and Kia has developed it to be distinctly sportier than the five-door model in an attempt to attract a younger buyer. Kia says that the new car will share the concept's lower roofline (25mm lower than the five-door's) and the chrome-ringed side window graphic.
The concept car looks like a quality, up-market car, with styling and a sporty interior to appeal to enthusiasts, but it remains to be seen how close to reality the pro_cee'd is and even then if Kia will have a suitably sporting engine line-up. We expect to see the production version at the
2007 Geneva Motor Show.
Shane O' Donoghue - 22 Sep 2006