If you’ve been browsing our news reports over the last few days you will have read about the funky
three-door concept version of Kia’s cee'd; masterfully named the pro_cee'd. Good news. Even better then that Kia will definitely be making a three-door version. Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen a smart-looking concept from a Korean outfit, only to be presented with a disfigured reworking at launch.
Fortunately that’s no longer a worry with the estate version; this surprisingly well-proportioned sport wagon is set for unveiling in
Paris, alongside the five-door model. While the naming brainstorm clearly didn’t taken place around these parts, the designing did - and it shows.
Although not set for sale until September 2007, Kia has already announced a choice of five engines, three trim levels and 12 paint colours. Although what they’ll be we have no idea. We do know that all cee'ds will be produced at Kia’s new factory on the outskirts of Zilina, Slovakia.
If you like the cee'd, but don’t need an estate, the slightly less striking but not distasteful five-door version is just around the corner. December of this year to be exact.
According to Kia, the seeds are sown for a major turning point in the company’s history, and by the looks of things we’d have to agree. We just hope Kia chooses to bestow the cee'd with an engine range equal to its fresh styling.
Will Nightingale - 27 Sep 2006