Future models - Kia - Pro_cee'd - GTHyundai-style sports range on Kia back-burnerKia waiting for higher volumes before introducing Hyundai SR-style sports sub-brand29 Mar 2013 By HAITHAM RAZAGUI in NEW YORK KIA Motors Australia (KMAu) is unlikely to use the European Pro_cee’d GT hot hatch to kick off a range of with further sub-branded sports variants as sister company Hyundai is about to. The company will wait until sales volumes across the board reach a level that can make such niche variants sustainable. KMAu public relations general manager Kevin Hepworth told GoAuto that despite breaching a record 30,000 sales last year following two years of growth exceeding 20 per cent, volumes are “still at a level where we can’t do everything”. Hyundai introduced the SR sports sub-brand with the Veloster SR Turbo and has since moved closer to introducing racy SR-badged versions of the i30 small hatch and Accent light sedan inspired by concepts shown at last year’s Sydney motor show. As Kia has used the GT moniker for the hot turbocharged Pro_cee’d, the designation would make sense for other sporty models – such as turbo’d versions of the Sportage SUV, Optima mid-size sedan and Cerato Koup, all of which are under consideration for Australia. But Mr Hepworth insisted Kia will tread carefully. “Pro_cee’d GT is going to be our performance edge to start with,” he said. “We’ll keep taking small steps Hyundai are doing 90,000 a year so they have a bit more room to play with.” Mr Hepworth explained that if SR variants (to use Hyundai’s example) account for five per cent of each model’s volume, it still represents a number of cars that starts to offer the company return on investment. However with Kia sales at around a third of Hyundai’s, the numbers it stands to sell of these potentially niche variants starts to look too small to bother. “It is not something we can amortise it is something we consider but not now,” said Mr Hepworth. The Pro_cee’d GT is powered by a 150kW/265Nm turbo-petrol engine and will arrive in Australia early next year. Read more28th of March 2013 New York show: Kia Oz mulls turbo KoupAussie roll-out of all-new Cerato line-up to conclude in Q4 when Kia flies the Koup27th of March 2013 Turbos set to spread across Kia range in OzSportage Turbo could out-punch Subaru Forester XT if Kia Australia gives the nod8th of March 2013 Kia engages dual-clutch futureSeven-speed self-shifter due in new Kia models within a year.17th of February 2013 Sporty Hyundai SR halo models edge closerAustralia looks set to become first market for new line of Hyundai SR hot hatchesAll motor showAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chery Brabham Chrysler Chevrolet Cupra Citroen DS Dodge Fiat Ferrari Foton Ford Great Wall FPV Haval GWM Honda Holden Hummer HSV Infiniti Hyundai Jaguar Isuzu Kia Jeep Land Rover Lamborghini Lexus LDV Mahindra Lotus Mazda Maserati Mercedes-AMG McLaren MG Mercedes-Benz Mitsubishi Mini Opel Nissan Peugeot Pagani Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Motor industry news |
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