Kia is busy developing the upcoming shooting brake
variant of the Ceed hatchback, which will be offered in GT guise as well. The new version was previewed by
the last year’s Proceed Concept and is expected to use elements of its styling,
including the shape of the sloping roof.
Test cars are still heavily camouflaged in a bid to
keep their shape a secret but this specific one is probably the range-topping
GT version. Features like the red brake calipers, the bigger alloys and of course
that GT badge on the front grille, partially reveal the nature of the upcoming
Kia.
Expect to see a more aggressive bodywork, featuring
bigger air inlets on the bumpers and deeper side sills. Sadly the pair of
trapezoidal exhaust pipes appears to be fake, at least on the test car with the
smaller wheels.
We still don’t know for sure which engine the
upcoming GT models will use. A detuned version of the turbocharged 2.0-liter
unit found in the i30N is a possibility, as well as a smaller 1.6-liter turbo.
Some reports even suggest that the warm Proceed might even use a mild hybrid
48-volt powertrain. Whichever the
engine, power will be around the 200-hp mark.
The interior will be spiced up with new bucket
seats, more equipment and splashes of color for that necessary sporty effect
but otherwise it’s expected to be the same with the Ceed hatchback. The upcoming Kia Proceed GT has
been partially developed at the Nurburgring by Albert Biermann, who’s also
responsible for the i30N. However, the GT will be a less aggressive model,
targeting models such as the VW Golf GTI and leaving the more hardcore rivals to its Hyundai cousin.
The new Kia Proceed’s range will also share most of
the engines that are already available in the Ceed as well. Kia is expected to
launch the new variant of the Ceed family of models in early 2019.
Cr : Carscoops
