Kia Proceed too expensive for Oz

Combining a five-door body with a swoopy-coupe lift back rear-end, Kia says the Proceed has been “designed, developed and engineered exclusively for Europe.” But that wasn’t always the case, with Kia Australia saying it had the opportunity to bring the new model down under but the plan was roadblocked by high costs.

“We looked at it but as a one-off model it would be too expensive for Australia,” Kia Australia director of media and communications Kevin Hepworth told Drive at the show.

“Shipping a car out of Europe is very expensive and if you’re only going to do it for one model it is not worth it.

“It would have cost somewhere over $40,000, maybe near $50,000. If you look at the price of the previous hatch, it doesn’t add up.”

The Proceed on display isn't as bold as the concept car either, with Hepworth rightly suggesting there wouldn't be much thirst in the market for a relatively mundane $50,000 Kia wagon. 

When it goes on sale in Europe early-2019 the Proceed will hold an attractive price tag, something needed for the South Korean maker's first shooting brake to make an impact in the niche segment.

The new Proceed is a marked departure from the previous-generation model, which was awkwardly named the pro_cee’d and was a three-door hatch. Its new five-door 'wagon' will only be available in GT or GT-Line specification that is made up of three engine options: a small-capacity 1.0-litre turbo petrol producing 88kW and 172Nm, a 103kW, 242Nm 1.4-litre turbo petrol and top-line 1.6-litre turbo diesel producing 100kW and 260Nm.

Inside are flourishes of contrasting stitching on black leather trim, sports-inspired elements and the latest centrally-mounted infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

“While its 2012 successor progressed this dynamic pedigree even further, we knew that discerning European drivers were opening up to the idea of something outside of the traditional three-door hot hatch,” said Kia Europe chief designer Gregory Guillaume.

The Proceed will go on sale early next year in Europe with Australia ruled out.