Geneva show: Kia makes Pro_Cee’d GT official

KIA has formally released images of its sporty new Pro_Cee’d GT hatch, hours after two of the embargoed images were leaked on a Greek website.

Describing the 1.6-litre turbocharged Pro_Cee’d GT and the equivalent five-door Cee’d GT as “the brand’s most performance-focused production cars ever”, Kia confirmed the pumped-up hatch twins were designed in Europe under the direction of Kia president and chief design officer Peter Schreyer.

Both GT models will go on public display at the Geneva motor show in March ahead of production start-up at Kia’s Slovakian plant in mid-May for a mid-year showroom roll-out in Europe.

As GoAuto reported yesterday, the three-door Pro_Cee’d GT is a hot contender for Australia, where Kia hopes to have the hatch as a performance flagship for its small-car line-up, on top of the Cerato and its Koup spin-off.

Kia Motors Australia says it hopes to make a decision on the car by the time the covers are ripped from it at Geneva.

It is likely to be the only Cee’d family model to make it to Australia, where the main focus will be on the Cerato small car that enters a new generation in April.

The pictures released overnight reveals for the first time some of the interior detail, with the GT logo embossed in red onto the black leather-and-piano-black sports steering wheel.

As well, a prominent Recaro logo is seen on the headrest of the leather sports seats that appear to be trimmed in black leather with red contrast stitching.

As Kia has already announced, the GT models will get Hyundai-Kia group’s 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injected four-cylinder engine introduced on the Hyundai Veloster SR Turbo last year.

Producing 150kW of power and 265Nm of torque, the engine will be mated with a six-speed manual gearbox in Europe, driving the front wheels and propelling the Pro-Cee’d GT from zero to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds.

The Pro_Cee’d GT gets a unique front fascia with bigger air openings and mesh black grille with a GT badge.

Distinctive LED daytime-running lights in a square formation sit either side of the fascia above driving lights, while at the back dual exhaust pipes grace the redesigned rear bumper.

Wheels are 18-inch alloys, with almost obligatory red brake callipers seen behind them.

The red-on-black theme is carried throughout the car, reminiscent of the Golf GTI from Volkswagen, where Mr Schreyer once worked.

The Pro_Cee’d GT and Cee’d GT will appear at Geneva alongside another Kia small car that has been teased in drawings ahead of the annual Swiss event.

Called only Kia Concept, this car appears to be a small coupe. Mystery surrounds Kia’s plans for this car.