Sydney show: Cerato makes it debut
BY PHILIP LORD | 9th Oct 2008
The work of ex-Volkswagen designer and now Kia’s global styling chief Peter Schreyer, the Cerato is the first model in Australia to display the distinctive new ‘H-grille’ design which the South Korean brand has elected to use across its range of cars.
According to Kia, the Cerato will appeal to those wanting to downsize from medium-size cars, although the new model is longer and wider than the existing Cerato sedan, with a longer wheelbase and bigger interior and boot. To put the Cerato’s size into perspective, Kia claims it has more interior space than the first-generation Toyota Camry sold in Australia.
The new Cerato will be powered by a new 2.0-litre petrol engine with continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) for what Kia claims will be class-leading (but as yet unspecified) power and torque, delivering the pulling power and responsiveness but not the fuel consumption of a bigger engine.
Kia did not release the specifications and pricing today for Australian-specification Cerato. The new model will be covered by Kia’s new five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty for private buyers (five-year/130,000kms for fleet buyers) introduced in February this year.
Also on the stand – and still covered in Outback mud and dust – were two Kia Sorentos prepped for off-road use and driven 40,000km through the Outback by renowned 4WD identity Pat Callinan for his new 4WD show, Pat Callinan’s 4x4 Adventures. A Sportage prepped to take on the Simpson Desert was also on display.
Kia also used the Sydney show to announce its new driver education program – Kia Young Drivers – which will be conducted specifically for Australia’s young drivers in partnership with driver education outfit Mind over Motor. The first of the seven-hour, one-day courses are due to start in Melbourne and Sydney in early 2009.