A sporty-looking ‘dynamic crossover’ based on the new Kia Ceed will be one of two models to add spice to the Korean car maker’s bread-and-butter hatchback range.
The Ceed was launched earlier this year in five-door hatchback and Sportswagon estate forms, but shooting brake and crossover versions are due later this year and in mid-2019 respectively as indirect replacements for the old model’s Proceed three-door.
Kia Europe sales and marketing boss Artur Martins told Autocar at last month's Geneva motor show that the three-door model was dropped due to dwindling demand. He said that Kia is “skipping the three-door as the segment is really small”, but said that “it opens up an opportunity for an additional body type”.
That new body type is the shooting brake, which will be the most aggressively styled Ceed, as previewed by the concept that was shown last year (pictured below). The crossover is expected to be more closely aligned with the other Ceed models (such as the estate, pictured top) in terms of design.
The crossover's expected stance and size suggests it could tread closely to Kia’s road-biased SUVs. However, Kia European design chief Gregory Guillaume said that “there is plenty of room between the Kia Stonic and the Kia Sportage for a new crossover”, dismissing that the new Ceed model could steal sales from its siblings.
The production Proceed has been revealed
Nevertheless, Kia UK has started paving the way for the new crossover by streamlining its Sportage range by eliminating slow-selling trim levels. In the longer term, the next-generation Sportage, due to be launched around 2021/22, will grow in size to make room for the new crossover.
Both the crossover and shooting brake Ceeds will share their 2.6-metre-long wheelbases with the new Ceed hatch and estate. The shooting brake will be the most distinctive, with a sweeping roofline and swept-back hatch door, as shown by the concept.
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Did i miss something? Is this
Did i miss something? Is this car being launched with 2 Estate versions? Doesnt Estate, Sportswagon, and Shooting Brake all mean pretty much the same thing?
Sporty
Last week it was the Sporty Auris, now enter the Sporty Cee'd. Define sporty?
Marketing department used to define the 'sporty' model in range as the 3dr? That's the model these manufacturers are now dropping due to poor sales.
Crossovers and estates have all the aesthetics of a brick, yet I'm sure people will still buy in to that 'sporty' line.
Defining sporty
Sporty seems to mean slightly more power, stiffened suspension, lower profile tyres and claims that a car has actually been driven at the Nürburgring. This generally translates to a more expensive price, poorer ride quality and a reduction in comfort. As a marketing tool, however, it seems popular with younger drivers and those aspiring to project an image of youth and vigour. I’m certainly not against cars with “sporty” pretentions, but at times the marketing is rather tiresome.
Positioning
I agree that there might be space for a car between the Stonic and the Sportage, but where will it fit between the Stonic, the Niro, the Soul and the Sportage?