Kia has pulled the covers off its second generation pro_cee'd hatchback/coupé at the Paris Motor Show. Due to go on sale in spring 2013 the new pro_cee'd promises to offer the same levels of comfort, refinement and efficiency as its five-door and wagon shaped siblings but with a touch of pizzazz thrown in. No word on a hot-hatch version as of yet though.
Exterior
Measurements will tell you that the pro_cee'd is the same length, width and has the same wheelbase as the five-door cee'd but the three-door layout and swooping roofline (dropped by 40mm) bring an extra element to the pro_cee'd. We're not quite sure about Peter Schreyer's, Kia's Chief Design Officer, assertion that "You know from a single glance that this is a car you want to drive, not just own" but it is a looker.
Depending on the specification, the exterior will have a unique dark chrome front grille, LED daytime running lights, LED rear lamp clusters and a new selection of alloy wheel designs.
Interior
Premium materials such as leather for the seats and steering wheel, piano black trim for the dashboard and centre console and alloy for the sports pedals aside, the interior is as you would find in the regular cee'd. Doors 220mm longer than those of the five-door cee'd allow for easier ingress to the rear but the roofline does impinge on headroom somewhat.
Mechanicals
At launch the pro_cee'd is likely to be offered with the same range of petrol and diesel engines as its siblings. This means kicking off with a 90hp 1.4-litre diesel and rising to a 135hp 1.6-litre petrol unit. Surely with those looks it is only a matter of time before the 185hp engine from the Hyundai Veloster Turbo makes an appearance?
Anything else?
With sales of 55,000 units the original pro_cee'd accounted for 12 per cent of cee'd volume in Europe. Kia is hoping the new looks help the car build on that success, though three-door hatchbacks in Ireland sell in low numbers.