Kia has been spotted working on the upcoming plug-in
hybrid Ceed Sportswagon, which will be the first variant of the Korean compact
model to receive the new powertrain. Kia is
expected to use the same plug-in hybrid powertrain with the Hyundai Kona, which
is also currently under development, and the Niro PHEV. It will reportedly
combine a 139 hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol with a 79 hp electric motor and a compact 8.4kWh battery pack. A six-speed dual-clutch automatic
transmission will be the only option.
The styling of the electrified Ceed Sportswagon will
be slightly different from its regular siblings as a nod to its greener
credentials; expect to see a slightly different front grille, aerodynamically
optimized alloy wheels and lots of blue detailing inside and out. The heavy covers of the test car
might have to do with Kia wanting to hide the location of the charging port, as
well as any bigger design changes on the front and rear of the car.
Interior revisions will be minimal; the plug-in
hybrid model will most likely get specific trim colors and a larger display for
the infotainment system, similar to that of the Hyundai Kona Hybrid. Normal
petrol models offer 600lt of luggage capacity, with the plug-in hybrid version
expected to slightly steal some of that space for the battery pack.
Offering just the Ceed Sportswagon with the plug-in
hybrid powertrain is Kia’s way of testing the market before deciding whether to
add the option to the other available bodystyles -namely the five-door
hatchback and the five-door ProCeed shooting brake.
The electrified Ceed will go against
rivals like the Corolla Touring Sports, which will be available with two
self-charging hybrid powertrains. Production of the new Ceed
Sportswagon PHEV will take place at Kia’s factory in Slovakia, making it the
company’s first plug-in hybrid model to be built in Europe. Kia is expected to
debut the new plug-in hybrid Ceed Sportswagon at the Frankfurt Motor Show this
September.
