Kia Launches Pro_cee’d GT With 1,6L Turbo Engine In Australia

Posted on March 20, 2014 by himi

After much buzz and anticipation, the Kia pro_cee’d GT was finally launched in Australia with a starting price of $29,990 or $33,490 with the optional Tech Package added.

The makes the hot hatch the bargain of its class.

It is also the second turbo petrol car that Kia has added to their line-up, following on the heels of the impressive Cerato Koup that was released last October.

The cee’d has very much been a European focused model, but the pro_cee’d GT looks to go global when it lands in Australia.

Pro_cee’d GT Hot Hatchback Competitors

It will be up against some stiff competition, with the likes of the Hyundai Veloster SR Turbo and the Volkswagen Scirrocco also in the same hot-hatchback segment.

The pro_cee’d GT is almost exactly the same size as the aforementioned rivals it will go up against.

One similarity it holds with the Veloster is the same 1.6-litre petrol engine making 150kW at 6000rpm and 265Nm over 1750-5600rpm.

Kia claims that the power in said engine is enough to get the GT from 0-100km/h in just 7.7 seconds, with a top speed of 230km/h.

The fact that the pro_cee’d GT only comes with a 6-speed manual transmission could be off-putting to some consumers, but the expected addition of a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission next year may turn those heads around.

Kia has done the usual great job of making sure that the GT suspension has been tuned for local conditions, which is something they do across their entire line-up.

Best-Looking Hot Hatchback In Australia

The GT comes with some sporty looking 18-inch alloy wheels that wear Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires. All-disc brakes are included and have been given a real sporty look with the addition of red calipers.

The entry level GT is very noticeable thanks to the addition of “ice-cube” LED daytime running lights.

LED’s are also used around back, as well as on the folding wing mirrors, indicators and puddle lights.

Finishing off the sporty styling are dual exhaust outlets, a sunroof, door handle lighting, privacy glass, and active HID headlights.

High-Tech Features, Sporty-Looking Interior

Equipment levels come with a host of features, such as Recaro leather and suede combination seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearknob, dual-zone climate-control, cruise contol, automatic headlights, reversing sensors, a reversing camera and electric windows and mirrors.

Keyless start and entry are added to the Tech models.

Both models come equipped with a 6-speaker audio system that features a ‘GT’ TFT LCD instrument binnacle screen.

There is also space for iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, and audio streaming. There is no sat nav in this range, but it is expected to be added in later versions of the Tech model.

The Kia pro_cee’d GT arrives at your local Kia showrooms later this month!

New Kia Pro_cee’d GT pricing and specifications

– Price: From $29,990 plus on-road and dealer costs
– Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo
– Power, torque: 150kW at 6000rpm, 265Nm at 1750-4500rpm
– Transmission: 6-speed manual gearbox
– Fuel economy: 7.4L/100km

New Kia Models Coming To Australia In 2014

Posted on January 4, 2014 by himi

Kia is hoping that the introduction of new models in 2014 will strengthen their presence in Australia.

Let’s take a quick look at the three upcoming Kia vehicles.

1. Kia Soul (February 2014)

Kia’s all-new Soul is the first new model to appear in Australia.

The Kia Soul has proven to be a major success for Kia from day one, and they are looking to build on that by delivering a more mature second generation model in February.

The 2014 Soul is a little longer and wider than the outgoing model, riding on a platform that is based on the cee’d.

Ride and handling have been vastly improved with the use of a stiffer body shell, while the interior cabin and cargo space has been increased, and all while delivering a quieter ride.

The Soul will come with a 103kW/167Nm 1.6-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine, with a 1.6-liter diesel also available in the local market.

Full model specifications will be given closer to the launch date, and may well include some of the following items found on the overseas model: include LED daytime running lights, xenon headlights, keyless entry with push-button start, climate control, heated and ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, eight-inch touchscreen with internet-linked apps, and several other luxury features.

2. Pro_cee’d GT (March 2014)

The second new Kia model to be introduced in Australia this year will be the pro_cee’d GT hot hatchback which is set to be released in March 2014.

This will represent the first time that the pro_cee’d GT has been available anywhere other than the European market.

The pro_cee’d GT was designed and engineered in Europe and is currently built at Kia’s production plant in Slovakia.

The GT hot hatch will line up with the likes of sister company Hyundai’s Veloster SR Turbo, as well as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST as its competitors.

The Pro_cee’d GT actually has the same engine as the Veloster, which is a turbocharged 150kW/265Nm 1.6-liter that goes from 0-100km/h in just 7.7 seconds.

Kia has been working hard to deliver a unique suspension system for the GT that is said to be tailored to suit the road conditions in Australia.

The GT model will set itself apart from the standard hatchback model sold in Europe with the addition of new front intakes, 4-point LED running lights, 18-inch alloys, Recaro sports seats, alloy pedals, red brake calipers and dual exhaust outlets.

Related Kia news: video review of the pro_cee’d GT

3. All-New Grand Carnival MPV

The Kia Grand Carnival (Sedona in the US market) has been the number one people mover in Australia for seven years, and will look to continue its run at the top when the all-new model arrives later in the year.

This will be the third generation of the minivan, which is due to get an official unveiling at the New York Motor Show in April.

A few spy shots have already made the rounds, though, giving us a general idea of what to expect.

Design changes include a shorter front overhang with a broad grille and sleek horizontal headlights.

The van actually looks more like a car, what with its heavily raked windscreen that is reminiscent of the Kia KV7 concept.

It looks as though horizontal tails lights appear round back, much like they do on the Rondo MPV.

One of the prototypes seen in the spy shots came with a 2.2-liter CRDI diesel engine, leading us to believe that the 4-cylinder R-Line diesel unit will be carried over from the outgoing model.

Related news about Kia: Next-gen Kia Sedona rendered

Stay tuned for more Kia sedan news!

Kia Launches New Cerato 5-Door Hatchback In Australia

Posted on August 22, 2013 by himi

The Cerato (sold also as Kia Forte) has proven to be Kia’s most successful global model to date, selling 2.5 million units since it was released back in 2001.

That number includes the 445,000 units it sold in 2011, which was actually 18% of all Kia’s sales that year.

The undisputed leader of the Cerato compact car family in Australia has been the stylish 5-door hatchback, which has accounted for as much as 70% of all Cerato sales down under since 2010.

The arrival of the all-new Kia Cerato hatchback will cement the cornerstone of the Cerato range in Australia.

Kia should be able to build on their presence in the small car segment when the Cerato Koup arrives a little later this year.

Cerato 5-Door Design

The design cues that have made the Cerato such a popular model in the small car segment have been given the magic touch by head designer Peter Schreyer.

It is that little bit of magic that has helped make the Kia brand one of the most desirable in the world.

The all-new Cerato hatch is longer, lower, and wider than the outgoing model. It also sports a longer wheelbase and has a sleeker profile that is sure to be a big hit with Australian car buyers.

The body shell has been restructured to be of a higher quality than before.

The redesigned 5-door hatch also features upgraded equipment, as well as a ton of additional convenience and safety features.

The cabin has also been made a bit more spacious, and an upgraded powertrain lineup will appear under the hood.

Kia Motors Australia Chief Operating Officer, Tony Barlow said that small car shoppers in Australia have already embraced the Cerato sedan and he feels that the arrival of the hatch will continue that good feeling. He expects that the excitement about the small car segment will be taken to all new levels when the Koup hits the market.

New Model Delivers Superb Quality

The first version of the Cerato was all about delivering a quality car at an affordable price, with the end result being 1.23 million sales worldwide.

When the second generation arrived in 2008, the focus shifted to design, quality and value, with 1.12 million units of that model already sold.

Kia designers and engineers listened to feedback from customers when creating the new Cerato.

The end result is a vehicle that has been designed to not just meet customer expectations, but to also exceed them.

The goal of Kia is to ensure that buyers end up getting a car that delivers a long-term ownership experience for every single customer.

Kia has put in 42 months of design work and has invested $256 million to deliver the third-generation Cerato, which will be manufactured at Kia’s Hwasung facility in Korea.

Stay tuned for more Kia news and information!

Kia Cerato Koup Turbo Release Date Announced

Posted on August 21, 2013 by himi

Kia is going after a whole new audience (in Australia) with the release of a pair of turbocharged, high performance-oriented models in the coming months.

The cars in question are the Kia Cerato Koup turbo (sold as Forte Koup SX in the USA) and the Pro_cee’d GT.

The goal of the Korean automaker is to broaden their appeal and to get people to think of them as a company that delivers performance derivatives of their popular cars.

Kia Australia’s chief operating officer, Tony Barlow, spoke to the automotive media in Australia and told that he believes both vehicles will have a positive effect on the perceived personality that already exists for Kia.

Cerato Koup, Pro_cee’d GT To Follow

The first car to arrive in showrooms will be the Kia Cerato Koup, a 3-door front-wheel drive that will show up in October.

The coupe will be available with either a 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder engine (150kW of power at 6000rpm, and 264Nm of torque from 1750-4500rpm) or a naturally aspirated 2.0L four-cylinder engine.

The Kia Pro_cee’d GT, which will be imported from Slovakia, Europe will employ the same 1,6L T-GDI turbocharged engine as used in the Cerato Koup.

The arrival of these two performance vehicles is a sure sign that Kia is taking strides towards the production of more performance-orientated vehicles.

The long rumored GT concept may now very well be the next performance model that goes into production.

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