Paul Tan's Automotive Industry News

Kia cee’d xR

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kia-ceed-xr-1.jpg

Here are spy photos taken of the upcoming sporty performance hot hatch variant of the 5-door Kia cee’d hatchback. The badge on the grille indicates it will be called the Kia cee’d xR, and it is rumoured to be powered by a 2 liter turbocharged engine, most likely in the 200 to 230hp range. This performance engine will also appear in performance Hyundai models.

Overall, the look of the car looks nice and sporty, however somehow all good designs just have to be spoiled by something – I don’t like that strange bit of chrome right above the rear number plate holder.

kia-ceed-xr-2.jpg

kia-ceed-xr-3.jpg

33 Comments »

  1. NiceCar said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 7:19 am

    Overall design look sporty and alike same class with Kia Rio..
    Anyway, I like the rear light design..

  2. 707 said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 8:02 am

    thats awesome!

  3. 4G63T DSM said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 8:06 am

    I love hatchbacks. Especially the Mazda3 Sport.

    This looks like a worthy competitor. Hyundai/Kia, hasn’t released a 5 door hatchback of this size class since the Elantra 5 door so its due time.

  4. schdmitz said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 8:11 am

    It look the same as the Toyota Corolla Verso especially the rear ..The front and the rear not really compatible ,the rear look cooooool but the front loooook very simple…….

  5. mofo said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 8:15 am

    Not bad. But how much it could be if available @ Malaysia market ?

  6. Charger said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 8:16 am

    Will this give VW Golf GTI a run for its money?

    Can the chassis and handling cop with the raw power? I’m curious!

  7. jasonlow said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 8:23 am

    Paul, is this just a concept? or coming out for the market? looks pretty darn good for a kia indeed…

  8. shimiwako said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 8:35 am

    It’s about time the Koreans introduce more performance cars.

  9. aesthari said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 9:57 am

    Nice front! And are those foglamps in the rear bumper? I think the chrome bit at the rear looks out of place, should have kept it red. The funniest looking thing must be the rear wiper; looks to short to be of any real use.

  10. ingolstadt said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 10:32 am

    There’s really only 2 nations in asia that could produce cars.

  11. drM said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 10:39 am

    this is not a hot hatchback. this is a Special Edition of Kia Cerato. rubbish

  12. BrakeFader said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 11:23 am

    Front looks like it got the inspiration from Golf GTI. Looks great but like how Paul pointed out, the weird chrome at the back looks totally out. What’s that black thing on the roof? A surfboard rack?

    drM, Ceed is totally different model from Cerato. Although somehow similar in category, I would still prefer Ceed.

  13. 20v_ke35 said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 12:32 pm

    First picture, wow !!! Why Malaysia car can’t be like this…

    Second picture, hmmm..look fimiliar…

    third picture, ooo…i remember, it look like a modded chevrolet aveo chasis.

  14. albagmane said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 12:41 pm

    nice nice nice…!!! very concept looking from the front… hope here got this car available soon…

  15. kei9 said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 2:24 pm

    great design! a new rival to VW golf GTI ?!maybe..

  16. transformer said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 2:38 pm

    great! other than VW Golf, this would be another entry to the hot hatch league which has Ford Focus/Mazda3, Honda Civic(Euro)

    Lan EVO and Impreza should be different cat, as Sedan!

  17. kei9 said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 2:48 pm

    not to mention also the honda civic type-R n cupra!

  18. transformer said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 2:50 pm

    yeah! xR would play with Ford Focus S/R, Mazda 3 S, Honda Civic (Euro/SI), VW Golf GTI and etc.

    but in a different league compared to Lancer Evo and Imprezas!

  19. transformer said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 3:13 pm

    can add one more, the Subaru Impreza Version 10 (a Turbocharged Hatch too!)

  20. kei9 said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

    hah?! version 10? sounds pretty powerful.

  21. nmh said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 3:36 pm

    damn good looking…..how is the interior btw?

  22. sloth said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 8:19 pm

    Just wondering what its name gonna be when (and if) it being ‘domesticated’ – Naza Kuasa xR???

  23. L said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 9:59 pm

    this is sooo unbelievably nice! Especially from kia!

  24. tokmoh said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 11:01 pm

    The whole rear part looks weird to me…….esp that chrome thing, can’t they make it look proper?

  25. rabakshoe said,

    March 27, 2007 @ 11:09 pm

    hmm wonder hows the interior goin to be ?
    hopefully they improve from their previous cars ..

  26. cbljkkj said,

    March 28, 2007 @ 12:40 am

    Im quite surprised that nobody has pitted this cee’D xR against the Ford Focus ST (Sanitary Towel) yet. The Focus ST is one of the better FWD 2.0 turbocharged cars in the international market nowadays, has tons of grip and corners like a rocket.

    Looks to be very interesting and promising this model. I remember Kia showcased a white 2.0 turbocharged concept model looked similar to this car a few years back. Can anyone back me up on this?

  27. Paul Tan said,

    March 28, 2007 @ 7:14 am

    I think it was a Hyundai instead.

    http://paultan.org/archives/2005/09/12/hyundai-accent-sr-preview/

  28. LittleFire85 said,

    March 28, 2007 @ 10:49 am

    Even a korean car company who started slower then P1 get the Turbo charged engine.. when P1 will realize that they are so slow in progress… So much money earn from us, and they still give us crap technology..

  29. armandd said,

    March 28, 2007 @ 9:20 pm

    stop mentioning protong please.. this kia can seriously challenge the golf GTi.

  30. Kia developing XR range of performance vehicles said,

    May 23, 2007 @ 4:16 pm

    [...] Related Posts: Kia Cee’d XR [...]

  31. topgunthang said,

    May 24, 2007 @ 12:17 am

    good to see more competition. though the golf gti is expected to remain king.
    the only competitor that manages to come closest is the ford focus st or ford xr5 though the oval styling interior puts some people off. the civic type r has already failed though it still has mass appeal. i suspect honda made it so (new civic type r’s performance slightly less than the current integra type r’s or type s’) so that the next integra type r will have a better debut and become a serious contender in the hot hatch market.

    the impreza i think is forgetable at this point. sti or not.

    though kia is trying to go up market with its euro cars and has convinced some car journalists on first drives….i wouldnt bet so much on them making a good sportscar on thier first try. hyundai also hasnt made any sportscars. though they may pretend to be one.

  32. MS-Design Hyundai i30 Sport Bodykit said,

    July 11, 2007 @ 12:14 am

    [...] Related Posts: Kia developing XR range of performance vehicles Kia cee’d XR [...]

  33. hughie522 said,

    September 15, 2007 @ 10:46 pm

    Kia Australia suggests that the xR range are merely a range of sport exterior and interior ‘garnishes’, and that performance, suspension etc. won’t be looked into at all.

    I hope that’s not the case :P .

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