RE: 204hp for Kia hot hatch...

RE: 204hp for Kia hot hatch...

Tuesday 4th December 2012

204hp for Kia hot hatch...

...but still no proper pictures, dammit!



Last week, we brought you a teaser shot of the new Kia Pro_Cee’d GT, Kia’s proposed entrant into the warm/hot/somewhere in-between-hatch market. This week, we’re bringing you another one. Which is rather a shame, really, because we’re all rather looking forward to seeing what it looks like in the flesh.

You see, the Pro_Cee’d is a handsome thing, and there’s every chance that a hot version thereof will be the first Kia to truly whet the appetites of hot hatch lovers everywhere. So it was with baited breath that we clicked open the latest press release from Kia to find ... another teaser.

Standard car looks good. GT should be better though.
Standard car looks good. GT should be better though.
This one does at least reveal a little more about the forthcoming temperate hatch, as it’s the first time we’ve had hints about the back end. There are strong hints of the outgoing Seat Leon here – no bad thing, as the Leon is a good looking car – as well as the now seemingly obligatory rear diffuser. Throw in some stylish light pods and a pair of chunky exhausts, and you’re pretty much there.

The good news is, Kia has backed up this teaser with some proper facts and figures, and they make for promising reading. The engine will be a strengthened version of Kia’s direct injection 1.6-litre, which will be equipped with a twin-scroll turbocharger. Power will be rated at 204hp, with 195lb ft torque to match.

What’s more, Kia promises ‘significant’ upgrades to the chassis and suspension, which will hopefully give the GT a bit of extra handling sparkle. And for the first time, Kia has confirmed that the five-door Cee’d will be available as a GT too, with the same specification as the three-door; while that won’t make it any faster, it will at least mean there’s a practical alternative for those who need such things.

So far so good, then; all that’s left is to wait and see what it looks like in the metal.

Author
Discussion

FisiP1

Original Poster:

1,279 posts

152 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
The point where I'd genuinely consider a Kia is getting closer, this looks very good so far.

Still mentally scarred from being run about in parents' friends Kia Pride when I was younger, but their current design direction is superb I think.

trunks82

252 posts

197 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Gangnam style! Still not intrested in Kia's tho.

court

1,485 posts

215 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
FisiP1 said:
The point where I'd genuinely consider a Kia is getting closer, this looks very good so far.
Was at the Kia/Abarth dealer having the 500 serviced the other week and was very impressed by the new c'eed. A swift one will make my co car choices next year for sure.

Astra Dan

1,670 posts

183 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Very... Veloster. Which isn't a bad thing, really. Scary isn't it?

Dr.jeffs

8 posts

195 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
YEY! Another 200bhp ish turbocharged hotish hatch! I'm foaming at the mouth with excitement, another classic drivers car on the way!




Or not.

LukeSi

5,753 posts

160 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
If this can be even half as good as the outgoing Clio 200 then it is going to absolutely decimate sales of the new RenaultSport Clio. I'm starting to get quite interested.

Jimmy No Hands

5,007 posts

155 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Rear looks Astra GTC-y.

Robb F

4,562 posts

170 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Can only mean good things. Kia are doing really well at the moment!

Andehh

7,107 posts

205 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
They started the 7 year warranty/extended warranty and are making some damn fine cars these days it seems. It is getting harder and harder to discount them on passed notions. I'm all for this!

Heathwood

2,524 posts

201 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
I agree that this this is great for Kia and should be good for consumers too. However, given that the top spec diesel is not far shy of £25k, this is unlikely to be a £17k hot hatch, which is what the market really needs IMO.

Butter Face

30,192 posts

159 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
LukeSi said:
If this can be even half as good as the outgoing Clio 200 then it is going to absolutely decimate sales of the new RenaultSport Clio. I'm starting to get quite interested.
Really? I bet it won't be a lot cheaper and as much as people moan about Renault reliability, most would still buy an RS Clio over a Kia Cee'd GT.

tomv1to

144 posts

166 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
LukeSi said:
If this can be even half as good as the outgoing Clio 200 then it is going to absolutely decimate sales of the new RenaultSport Clio. I'm starting to get quite interested.
I don't think this is going to be any cheaper than a RS Clio 200 with cup chassis, especially not with the discounts. I don't think Kia are going to break the performance market anytime soon, and they have begun to get quite expensive. Especially with what Dacia is offering.

deadmau5

3,197 posts

179 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
I'm a big Renaultsport fan and I can safely say this Kia looks more exciting than the new 200T. I don't want flappy paddles and I don't want 5 doors.

LukeSi

5,753 posts

160 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
Butter Face said:
LukeSi said:
If this can be even half as good as the outgoing Clio 200 then it is going to absolutely decimate sales of the new RenaultSport Clio. I'm starting to get quite interested.
Really? I bet it won't be a lot cheaper and as much as people moan about Renault reliability, most would still buy an RS Clio over a Kia Cee'd GT.
With a majority of the target RenaultSport market how it drives will be more important than the badge, Renault isn't exactly a premium brand either (no offence meant to you). The 7 year warranty Kia offer doesn't hurt either.

You have to remember it won't be competing with the current Clio 200, not much can in that sector of the hot hatch market. It will be competing with the new one. And if Kia can nail the driver involvement they are on to a winner.

Butter Face

30,192 posts

159 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
LukeSi said:
Butter Face said:
LukeSi said:
If this can be even half as good as the outgoing Clio 200 then it is going to absolutely decimate sales of the new RenaultSport Clio. I'm starting to get quite interested.
Really? I bet it won't be a lot cheaper and as much as people moan about Renault reliability, most would still buy an RS Clio over a Kia Cee'd GT.
With a majority of the target RenaultSport market how it drives will be more important than the badge, Renault isn't exactly a premium brand either (no offence meant to you). The 7 year warranty Kia offer doesn't hurt either.
I agree. But to think that it will be a better drive or package than the RenaultSport offering is naive. The 2013 Clio will be a brilliant car I'm sure.

Also, Renault now come with a 4 year warranty, 4 years free servicing and 4 years breakdown.

Kia will take a very small number of customers from the RS Brand but not many IMO.

chris watton

22,477 posts

259 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
LukeSi said:
With a majority of the target RenaultSport market how it drives will be more important than the badge, Renault isn't exactly a premium brand either (no offence meant to you). The 7 year warranty Kia offer doesn't hurt either.
Have to agree - a 7 year warranty is very good, especially for a tuned engine with turbo strapped to it, pushing out that sort of power. I don't think Kia's are joke cars anymore, they seem well put together and I haven't met anyone who hasn't liked the Cee'd; (Wife works for a car rental company, and return customers always pick the Kia cars over the others - plus they are the only ones that never need any warranty work!)

CraigyMc

16,326 posts

235 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
I might be several million miles off base here, but I think I saw a transporter full of these being delivered to a depot near Southampton Airport this morning. Did my eyes decieve me?

C

LukeSi

5,753 posts

160 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
CraigyMc said:
I might be several million miles off base here, but I think I saw a transporter full of these being delivered to a depot near Southampton Airport this morning. Did my eyes decieve me?

C
It will likely be a Pro_Cee'd you saw rather than the GT.
Butter Face you would say that wouldn't you hehe
On a serious note I have no doubt the Clio will be a good car, but is just isn't pure enough any more mainly due to the loss of the Manual Gearbox.

mattbvw

375 posts

214 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
LukeSi said:
CraigyMc said:
I might be several million miles off base here, but I think I saw a transporter full of these being delivered to a depot near Southampton Airport this morning. Did my eyes decieve me?

C
It will likely be a Pro_Cee'd you saw rather than the GT.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/paris-motor-show-2012/new-kia-proceed-paris-reveal

The 3-door isn't out until 'spring 2013' according to Autocar so maybe it was the 5-door...

renorti

727 posts

195 months

Monday 3rd December 2012
quotequote all
the 7 year warranty is't all it seems, A relative of mine works at a Kia/ renault/SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN SOUTH WALES,just as an example recently a Kia Cee'd ,diesel came in with head gasket failure , the cylinder head was removed to examine and the gasket had failed, nothing drastic.The only parts Kia would allow as a repair was,a head gasket and rocker cover. no new timing belt,no new head bolts etc,etc.
shockingly poor, to be fair the dealership are not at fault they wanted to do "a proper repair" but were unable to do so.
this is a large dealership,and I found out that a few of the longer serving mechanics won't work on the Kia cars,because of the warranty issues the garage has with Kia.