Kia renders pro_cee'd GT hot-hatch

Kia has provided the first glimpse of a hot-hatch concept derived from the recently revealed pro_cee’d, and the vehicle in question is set for launch in the second half of 2013.

The South Korean car-maker is keeping relatively quiet with details for now, announcing only that the pro_cee’d GT will feature a 1.6-litre turbocharged GDI engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

Conceived to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST, the Kia hotshoe shares its 1.6-litre turbo four-pot with the Hyundai Veloster Turbo, which ekes out 150kW and 265Nm.

Kia drivetrain boss Joachim Hahn conceded a dual-clutch sequential gearbox would be needed for some markets, but Hyundai/Kia’s existing unit isn’t capable of handling the turbo engine’s torque.

“Currently we combine this dual-clutch transmission to our 1.6 GDI engine with 135 or in other applications 140 horsepower,” he told motoring.com.au at the Paris motor show.

“Our wish – that is also a look into the future – is also to have a dual-clutch transmission to be combined with turbocharged gasoline engines and diesel engines.

The demand for that is to have in the end a dual-clutch transmission, which is able to transform 350Nm, which the current application is not able to do.”

As for the GT’s styling, Kia design boss Peter Schreyer had this to say at the Paris motor show: “I think the important thing is not to make it more aggressive, [but] to give it more performance.”

“I think it’s already pretty sporty looking... but the way’s not to make [it] really wild – big spoilers and everything on it – and then say: ‘What engine’s it going to get?’ It’s got to be the other way around; you’ve got to put a decent engine in it and then say: ‘OK, this is what it's going to look like’,” Schreyer added.

Going on the (admittedly abstract) rendering, the GT is likely to be differentiated from the garden-variety pro_cee’d via a beefier wheel/tyre combo, GT badging set into the ‘tiger nose’ grille and a full body kit. There is also a quartet of LED daytime running lights and a VW Golf GTI-style red pinstripe underlining the lower grille.

Although the sketch shows a three-door GT with a radically chopped roof, it’s believed a five-door version will also follow – again mirroring the Golf GTI strategy.

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