The name is still ridiculous, but this hot hatch looks set to be a credible and value-packed alternative in the market.
Viewers of a certain pokey motoring show on the BBC will surely recognize the Kia cee’d, or cee-apostrophe-dee as Jeremy Clarkson likes to call it. But while the maroon cee’ds that have been a regularity on the show constantly get thrashed by not-always-competent celebrities, it’s probably fair to say that this variant won’t be.
The pro_cee’d GT is the first proper hot hatch to come from any of the Korean manufacturers (the Hyundai Veloster Turbo is marketed as a coupe), slotting into the middle ground of the segment; cheaper and less powerful than the established big guns (Golf GTI, Focus ST), but more spacious and practical than the new league of junior hatches (Fiesta ST, Renault Clio RS).
Differentiating the pro_cee’d GT from the regular car should not be a difficult task. It gets an aggressive bodykit all-round, incorporating graphite grey 18-inch rims, a rear diffuser and ‘ice cube’ LED daytime running lights. In a clear sign of intent, the GT’s lower air intake also sports a bright red stripe running across it, a nod to the Golf GTI that defines this segment.
What it won’t do, is to be faster than the GTI. With its turbocharged 1.6-litre T-GDi engine, it sends 201 bhp and 265 Nm to the front wheels through a six-speed manual (yay!), completing the century sprint in 7.4 seconds before topping out at just under 230 km/h.
Then again, it doesn’t necessarily have to out-drag the competition, because Kia is pitching the GT as a brisk all-rounder designed for “everyday usability and civility, not a track special” (although its chassis was developed at the Nurburgring). So even though it gets re-tuned springs and dampers, a thicker rear anti-roll bar and larger brakes, its multi-link suspension should ensure a tolerable ride.
There will be two trim levels available, GT and GT Tech. Both get lovely Recaro seats, cruise control, Bluetooth/iPod stereo and a nifty TFT LCD screen for the instruments while GT Tech adds a 7-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, heated seats and steering wheel, keyless entry and automatic wipers, amongst other things.
The great news for the pro_cee’d GT is that it significantly undercuts the price of both a Golf GTI and a similarly specced Focus ST, yet offering the same practicality and only a little less performance. The downside? We won’t be getting it here because like the cee’d, the GT is a Europe-only model. A big shame, because we could do with more Reasonably Priced cars on this little island.
