Hatch & estate body styles will receive siblings.
Korean auto marque Kia has enjoyed great success over the past few years following its ‘reinvention’ under the stewardship of Peter Schreyer, and it appears that the success of one particular model in Europe demands a partial reinvention of the nameplate.
The Kia Cee’d, the Korean company’s answer to the Ford Focus and the Renault Megane, will be arriving in its third generation next year, and it appears that it’ll come in a couple of body styles that we might not be all too familiar with. While the new car will continue to come in 5-door and Sportswagon (read: estate) body styles, the Cee’d nameplate will also be tacked on to new SUV and shooting-brake variations, allowing Kia to capitalise on the success of the Cee’d in Europe.
When the Cee’d first arrived it was a revelation, offering sharper styling and more refined dynamics, akin to some of the little Kia’s more mature rivals from Ford, Peugeot, and Fiat. It helped establish that Kia was now a worthy contender in the segment, and no longer an option reliant on sharp pricing to secure sales. That in mind, it makes sense that the Korean company would want to build on the grip that the Cee’d nameplate already has.
The Cee’d SUV will slot in between the recently-launched Stonic compact crossover and the larger Sportage, while the shooting brake variant (previewed by the Proceed concept at this years’ Frankfurt motor show) will top the range. Both models will find motivation from the same range of engines as the existing model, though they’re expected to be reworked to conform with latest Euro 6 emissions regulations.
The Cee’d hatch will also be revised slightly when its third-generation debuts next year, with the three-door body style to be dropped altogether. The entire Cee’d range will also benefit from a more upmarket interior, with circulating spy shots suggesting a more upmarket interior that’s been simplified in its presentation.
It won’t stop there though, as the performance boss for Kia & Hyundai, Albert Biermann, has previously revealed to Autocar that Kias will benefit from a performance-oriented GT range in the future, similar to what Hyundai’s done with its range of N cars (like the i30 N). However, while Hyundai N models lean toward the hardcore end of the spectrum, Kia’s GT models will be more road-focused and forgiving, in keeping with the ‘Grand Tourer’ moniker.
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