The Kia pro_cee’d GT has been revealed online ahead of the Korean hot-hatch’s world premiere at the 2013 Geneva motor show in March.
The sporty three-door will debut alongside its five-door sibling – the Kia cee’d GT – at the Swiss show, the hot hatch duo launching as the most performance-focused production Kia models.
Kia’s GT twins inherit their 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine from the Hyundai Veloster SR Turbo, matching its 150kW/265Nm output. With a six-speed manual transmission sending drive to the front wheels, the pro_cee’d GT accelerates from 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds.
Designed at Kia’s European design centre in Russelsheim, Germany, to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT add over regular cee’d variants a larger, more aggressive front air intake, distinctive LED daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, dual exhaust outlets and red-stitched leather Recaro sports seats.
Kia Australia national public relations manager Kevin Hepworth said the five-door cee’d GT wasn’t a priority for our market but confirmed discussions to bring the three-door pro_cee’d GT to Oz were progressing well.
While reiterating that an Australian introduction was far from a done deal, Hepworth said the pro_cee’d GT hero car was a chance to reach our shores before the end of 2013 if the local arm is successful in its request to head office, if a viable business case can be developed, and if there is enough supply to satisfy global demand.
Kia pro_cee’d GT production will commence at the Korean manufacturer’s plant in Zilina, Slovakia from mid-May, with the cee’d GT to join it on the assembly line towards the end of 2013.
