What's the news?
Kia has confirmed that it will be putting its cee'd GT and pro_cee'd GT hot hatches into production; marking the first performance models from Kia since the company's launch.
Exterior
To make sure the GT models don't go unnoticed, Kia has fitted them with new bumpers and light clusters, along with bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels. Exclusive paint finishes have also been created; and the brake callipers now come in red.
The initial designer sketches also reveal a dual-exit exhaust for the five-door model. This is expected to be present on the three-door pro_cee'd too.
Interior
While full specification details will be released closer to launch, we can confirm that Kia has done away with the standard seats and fitted Recaro items instead. Alloy pedals are also featured, as are other bespoke materials.
Mechanicals
To give the GT models a sporty edge, a twin-scroll turbocharger has been bolted to the car's standard 1.6-litre GDI petrol engine to create a 201hp output. Torque is also up to 265Nm - 61 per cent higher than the regular model. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard and 0-100km/h is said to take 7.9 seconds. Chassis and suspension enhancements have also been developed to handle the car's extra power.
Anything else?
Production for the cee'd and pro_cee'd GT models is set to start in May, with first deliveries expected mid-2013. Prices and specification details have yet to be confirmed.