Geneva motor show - Kia

What's the hot topic at Kia?
Cee'ds sprouting all over the place. The estate version is being seen in production for the first time alongside a cabriolet concept car.

Any good?
The estate certainly looks the part. The load platform is nearly 10 inches longer than the Cee'd hatchback's, so the boot is truly enormous - 534 litres up to the bottom of the windows.

Anything clever about it?
Yes - the way the tailgate hinges are mounted makes it easier to get into the boot when someone parks close behind or you're in a confined space, such as a garage with a low roof.

When? What? How much?
Summer is about as specific as Kia can get to a UK on-sale date. As for pricing, expect an increase of about £1000 over the equivalent hatch, though it's not yet clear what engines will be offered in the UK given the heavier loads the car is likely to carry.

And the cabrio?
It's a concept car called Ex-cee'd, and it's the first Kia with design influence from Peter Schreyer, the design director the Koreans poached from Audi. He designed the original Audi TT as well as the VW Beetle.

Hang on - isn't that a canvas roof?
It is. Schreyer thinks folding metal tops are now too commonplace and that the soft top is ready for a bit of a comeback. 'The quintessential element of a truly rewarding cabrio,' he says.

Any hope of it going into production?
A good chance, we reckon, though perhaps not exactly in this form. Kia has said it wants to freshen up its range with something like this, so we wouldn't be surprised to see the real thing next year.

To see video footage of the Kia stand, and more on the Cee'd, click here.