Frankfurt motor show 2007 - Kia Pro'ceed

Kia is presenting the third member of its Cee'd family – a three-door hatchback named Pro-cee'd.

It is set to join the five-door hatch and the SW (estate) in the UK on February 1 next year.

There's even a green version, called Eco-cee'd, appearing as a concept car. This is based on the 114bhp 1.6-litre diesel model, but features aerodynamic and mechanical changes that raise fuel economy from 60.1 to 72.4 mpg and trim CO2 emissions from 125g/km to just 104 – less than a Toyota Prius hybrid.

Kia has followed Vauxhall's lead with Pro-cee'd. Just as the three-door Astra Sport Hatch looks significantly different to the five-door Astra, so Pro-cee'd has a more sporty profile than the five-door Cee'd.

It is longer and lower, and also up to 84kg lighter. The only common body panels are the bonnet and front wings.

There are changes inside, too, including a fixed rear cushion in place of the split folding arrangement in the Cee'd.

That means the rear backrests don't quite fold flat, and there's a little less rear headroom, but it's still a decent four-seater with adequate luggage space.

The front seats have a tilt-and-slide mechanism and a memory function.
Pro-cee'd is available with all six petrol and diesel engines – 1.4 to 2.0 litres and 89 to 141bhp – available in Cee'd, although it has not yet been decided which will be offered in the UK.

The car will be backed by the seven-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty offered in Cee'd.

As for Eco-cee'd, a production future has yet to be determined, although Kia has committed itself to offering cleaner cars by 2010.

Aerodynamic fairings beneath the body and around the wheels, an engine cut-out when idling in traffic, brake energy regeneration, internal engine modifications, longer gear ratios and low rolling resistance tyres account for the dramatic improvements in fuel efficiency.