news

Kia Cee’d Hot Hatch Coming, Soulster Cabrio Off The Cards: Report

Reports of a Kia assault on the hot-hatch market have been circulating for some time, focusing on the likes of the Rio light car, the next-generation Cerato and the Euro-market Cee'd range. It's the latter that looks likely to mark th

Mike Stevens

00:2028 August 2012

0comments

Kia Cee'd Hot Hatch Coming, Soulster Cabrio Off The Cards: Report

Reports of a Kia assault on the hot-hatch market have been circulating for some time, focusing on the likes of the Rio light car, the next-generation Cerato and the Euro-market Cee'd range.

It's the latter that looks likely to mark the carmaker's entry into the performance market, with reports out of the US suggesting that a power-boosted Cee'd is around the corner.

Speaking with Kia's global PR boss Michael Choo, Car & Driver reports that a souped-up Kia will hit Europe in 2013, "in the form of sporty versions of the Cee'd three- and five-door models".

Expect the GTI-rivalling Cee'd flagship to draw power either from the Veloster SR Turbo's 150kW 1.6 turbo, or a version of the turbocharged 2.0 litre mill that puts 204kW through the overseas Optima Turbo.

Fans outside of the reach of the Cee'd shouldn't lose hope of a powerful Kia though, with performance versions of the Rio and new Cerato still a very real prospect.

Choo also wrote off the idea of a convertible bodystyle in the next-generation Soul line-up, confirming that while a Soulster-inspired model was once under consideration, the plan has since been dropped.

The new Soul has already been spied testing in five-door form and, inspired by the recent Track'ster concept, a sportier three-door version is also expected to appear in the future.