Kia have revealed an all-new ProCeed GT station wagon that should tempt the masses out of an SUV, should it ever arrive in New Zealand.
Granted, Kia have all its SUV bases well-covered with popular models ranging from the small Picanto X Line, recently released hybrid Niro, medium-size Sportage and large Sorento. Heck, Kia even made sure the quirky among us are catered to with the Soul.. and Soul EV.
Yet for those wanting a car that delivers a higher level of driving engagement, while still offering plenty of space in the boot and enough room in the rear for a growing family, the new ProCeed GT could be just the ticket.
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Presented for the first time at the Paris Motor Show this week, the new wagon was developed by Kia's Europe's design and engineering teams based in Germany.
Carrying the same nameplate as the second-generation Kia pro_cee’d hot hatch that Kiwis saw in small numbers four years ago, Kia say the new wagon will deliver the same spirit and athleticism as the brand's first performance hatch.
But most importantly, Kia have developed the ProCeed GT wagon to be fun-to-drive and 'major on performance' with an 'accomplished ride and handling'.
Powered by Kia's 1.6-litre T-GDi engine producing 103kW of power and 167Nm of torque, the unit is paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox for purists, or optional seven-speed double-clutch.
The ProCeed's design features a coupe-inspired raked-back silhouette like a luxury European car. And riding on 18-inch wheels, the new model is lower than the standard Ceed five-door hatchback offered in Europe.
Inside the cabin, the ProCeed GT is fitted with high-quality soft-touch surfaces and a 7.0-inch ‘floating’ touchscreen infotainment system with audio, heating and ventilation controls. Front row passenger get sports seats with larger bolsters and the door sills feature metallic scuff plates.
Kia Motors Europe’s Chief Designer Gregory Guillaume says decidion to use the ProCeed name in a shift from hot hatch to wagon was not taken lightly.
"ProCeed was not just the name we automatically gave to our previous three-door cee’d,” explains Guillaume. “It means so much more than that – it’s a badge of honour reserved for the model that not only sits at the top of the Ceed family, but one that’s also immediately identifiable as the most emotionally engaging car in the range. Simply put, ProCeed is the Kia that will make you heart beat that much faster.”
Unfortunately for Kiwis, the ProCeed GT was launched as a Europe only model, for now at least.
Production (including RHD models for markets like the UK) and first deliveries are due to start in early 2019. But for those looking at replacing the SUV in the new year, Kia's new wagon could be worth inuring about when it's time to upgrade.
Who knows, perhaps like the Kia pro_cee’d hatchback, a few models could land here...
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