More on Kia's first hot-hatch

Kia has revealed more details and sketches of its first two hot-hatch models, the awkwardly named pro_cee’d GT three-door and the cee’d GT five-door, both of which are now being firmly sought for Australia.

First reveled in teaser form a week ago, both models have now been confirmed for production at Zilina in May, before they go on sale across Europe from mid-2013 as Kia’s first direct rivals for the VW Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST.

As we reported yesterday, Kia Australia is keen to get its hands on its first turbocharged petrol model, either in the form of the Optima Turbo or the next-generation Cerato Koup Turbo.

Kia’s redesigned Cerato sedan arrives here next April or May, followed by the five-door Cerato hatch in July and the two-door Koup as early as November.

With the Optima Turbo not yet confirmed for right-hand drive production, the latter appeared most likely to form the basis of Kia’s first turbo-petrol model in Australia.

Now, however, Kia Australia’s National Public Relations Manager Kevin Hepworth has told motoring.com.au that both three- and five-door versions of the pro_cee’d GT hot-hatches are also under serious consideration for release Down Under.

Mr Hepworth noted that mainstream versions of Europe’s cee’d, which is dimensionally and mechanically similar to Kia’s new Cerato, were not being sought for Australia, but said both GT models would be ideal range-toppers for Kia’s new Cerato small-car range here.

“There is no signed-off or confirmed availability of any turbocharged model for Australia at this stage,” said Mr Hepworth. “But that doesn’t mean we’re not asking and doing business plans for them.

“Both the GTs are cars that would suit our line-up, as halo models for the new Cerato line-up.

“So our first turbo (petrol) could come in the form of the Optima, the Koup or these two new (cee’d GT) models from Europe.

“It could be any, all or none of them, but we’re fighting tooth and nail for them.”

Pictured here in two new sketches, Kia has confirmed the upcoming cee’d GTs will come standard with Recaro sports seats, alloy pedals and “bespoke surface materials (to) create an engaging, performance-oriented ambience for the driver and passengers”.

Kia said both GT models will also wear unique 18x7.5-inch alloy wheels, new grilles, deeper bumpers, red brake calipers, special paint finishes and a pair of jewel-like, four-point LED daytime running lights.

As previously revealed, the cee’d GTs will be powered by a revised version of the twin-scroll turbocharged 1.6-litre GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) petrol engine that already powers the Veloster SR Turbo from Korean sister brand Hyundai, which will release a range of SR-badged performance models in Australia from next year.

As in the Veloster, the 1.6 T-GDI engine lifts power to 152kW (up 51 per cent over the non-turbo 1.6 GDI) and torque to 265Nm (up 61 per cent).

Matched with a six-speed manual transmission (although Kia is believed to be working on an upgraded version of the standard Veloster’s six-speed dual-clutch gearbox to handle the turbo engine’s extra torque), Kia claims the pro_cee’d GT will accelerate to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds.

Kia also promises “significant developments to the chassis and suspension systems” to match the higher performance credentials of both GT models.

Apart from 300x28mm ventilated front brake discs and 262x10mm solid rear rotors, they include fully independent subframe-mounted multi-links at the rear, to match the subframe-mounted MacPherson front struts, both with stiffer coil springs, gas-filled shock absorbers and thicker anti-roll bars.

Other preliminary GT specifications include 225/40 R18 tyres (with a “temporary mobility kit” replacing a full-size spare), a tight 10.6-metre turning circle and 2.85 turns lock-to-lock from the motor-driven electric power steering system.

Kia said both GTs will measure 4310mm long, 1780mm wide and ride on a 2650mm wheelbase with 1545mm front and 1553mm rear tracks, but while the three-door pro_cee’d GT is just 1430mm high and has an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.33Cd, the five-door cee’d GT is 40mm higher at 1470mm and slightly slipperier at 0.32Cd.