12:49 am, January 29, 2013
KIA has revealed more details about its upcoming Golf GTI-rivalling hot Cee’d.
Set to take on the Golf GTI and other assorted rivals, the pro_cee’d GT outputs 201bhp, and comes with enough sporty detailing to aim it squarely at other butch-looking hot hatches.
The 1.6 litre engine has been given the turbo treatment that hikes power up by a much as 75bhp over the standard, un-blown model.
The increased muscle under the bonnet doesn’t quite compete with the likes of the Vauxhall Astra VXR (276bhp) and the Ford Focus ST (247bhp) but the styling tweaks certainly make this look like machine that means business.
Distinctive quad LED lights are nestled into a much meatier front bumper that grazes that asphalt, bespoke 18-inch alloys fill the flared wheel arches and a distinctly Golf GTI-esque honeycomb mesh grille tops off the new aggressive front end.
The images don’t reveal the rear but Kia has said the back end is just as pretty, with twin-exit exhausts ramming home the performance intentions of the new model.
Inside, the car gets Recaro race seats and red stitching that flows from door panels to the leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Expect the 0-60mph sprint time to be around the 8 second mark while the chassis and suspension set-up to be firmer to provide a much more involved driving experience.
The pro_cee’d GT will be officially unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March but the model is likely to go on sale late summer and cost around £22,000.
