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 litre 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.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
Overall design look sporty and alike same class with Kia Rio..
Anyway, I like the rear light design..
thats awesome!
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.
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…….
Not bad. But how much it could be if available @ Malaysia market ?
Will this give VW Golf GTI a run for its money?
Can the chassis and handling cop with the raw power? I'm curious!
Paul, is this just a concept? or coming out for the market? looks pretty darn good for a kia indeed…
It's about time the Koreans introduce more performance cars.
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.
There's really only 2 nations in asia that could produce cars.
this is not a hot hatchback. this is a Special Edition of Kia Cerato. rubbish
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.
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.
nice nice nice…!!! very concept looking from the front… hope here got this car available soon…
great design! a new rival to VW golf GTI ?!maybe..
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!
not to mention also the honda civic type-R n cupra!
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!
can add one more, the Subaru Impreza Version 10 (a Turbocharged Hatch too!)
hah?! version 10? sounds pretty powerful.
damn good looking…..how is the interior btw?
Just wondering what its name gonna be when (and if) it being 'domesticated' – Naza Kuasa xR???
this is sooo unbelievably nice! Especially from kia!
The whole rear part looks weird to me…….esp that chrome thing, can't they make it look proper?
hmm wonder hows the interior goin to be ?
hopefully they improve from their previous cars ..
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?
I think it was a Hyundai instead.
http://paultan.org/archives/2005/09/12/hyundai-ac…
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..
stop mentioning protong please.. this kia can seriously challenge the golf GTi.
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.
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
.