Styled by a dedicated multi-national Kia design team in Germany, assisted by a design team in Korea, the new Kia cee´d is exclusively tailored to meet the requirements of the European C-segment and the tastes of European consumers.
cee´d has a ´tough not rough´ appearance, combining strongly solid forms with sensitively flowing lines, jewel-like detailing and a broad stance. It´s a design that points towards the future elements of Kia´s evolving design language - and those elements are a reflection of similar features first revealed in the Kia concept vehicle, of the same name, revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.
"We wanted to make cee´d as beautiful, as exquisitely detailed and precisely executed as possible," enthused Miklos Kovacs, Chief Designer ED programme, Kia R&D Centre, Russelsheim, Germany. "Kia set us several goals - to create a modern, distinctive, harmoniously balanced C-segment contender, to introduce the starting point for the new design DNA for Kia and to highlight that this car is a truly European design, a car designed in Europe, made in Europe, to fulfil 100% of European customer needs."
The cee´d has several of the core design elements of two earlier Kia cars - the Sorento SUV and Picanto small car. The cee´d surfaces are bold, the shoulders strong, with a good stance and feeling of solidity. Sorento has this solidity, but also some very flowing lines, from the grille and headlamps, over the bonnet and into the A-pillars.
With cee´d, the major flow-line runs from low on the nose spoiler, around the grille, over the bonnet, up the A-pillar, along the roof-rail, down the C-pillar and around the rear light clusters and into the bumper - enveloping the whole car.
"European car buyers are especially sensitive to vehicle proportions and can tell when a vehicle looks ´right´ - but it is a gut feeling. What is important with proportion is creating a ´game of tension´ and cee´d has a relatively long front to create more tension between front and rear. Through the clearly perceived quality of cee´d we want to establish a certain design standard for Kia to communicate to the outside world that we truly understand what quality is all about," added Kovacs.
Crafted to satisfy every buyer´s every sense
The style, execution, quality, fit and finish of the new Kia cee´d interior has been designed and developed to the highest standards to fully demonstrate the brand´s growing ´power to surprise´ before a European audience. Kia´s senior executives are now certain that when customers first open the door and step into cee´d they are going to be deeply impressed.
"The interior design of cee´d is so good that potential customers will experience ´love at second sight´ when they open the doors," enthuses David Labrosse, Manager Product Planning, Kia R&D Centre, Russelsheim. "cee´d presents customers with more closely matched materials, more soft-touch surfaces and more high quality fabrics made in Europe to suit local tastes. cee´d will give Kia buyers multiple choices and empower them to create their own interiors, their own world and their own atmosphere."
The cee´d front door hinges feature three ´detentes´ - the last position an extra-wide 70 degrees, as one of the key design briefs for Kia´s new C-segment challenger was to ensure easy of entry and excellent access both front and rear, plus class-best rear legroom.
The modern, clean design theme that characterises the exterior of Kia cee´d is replicated throughout the interior, which continues the new model´s theme of offering maximum consumer choice. "Not only will the cee´d be available with three trim/equipment levels, it will also present customers with the opportunity to choose between four interior concepts, five centre stack styles and seven different fabrics - depending on model," comments Ms. Dominique Raye, Design Manager Colour & Trim, Kia European Design Centre.
The four interior concepts are Basic, Rainbow (in Blue or Blush), Classic and Sporty. The centre stack can be finished in Black, Silver, Blue, Blush or Aluminium paint. The interior trim choices include: five fabrics - Grey, Blue, Blush (with wave pattern), Classic (with chevron pattern), Sporty (with the woven material replicating a tyre tread pattern) and two leathers, Grey and Black.
For the lighter colour-ways a policy of fitting darker upper surfaces and lighter lower surfaces is followed in order to prevent unwanted reflections, while maximising the sense of interior space.
Driver-focused cockpit and controls
Although the C-segment is a strongly family-oriented sector, the cee´d driver will enjoy the feeling of a ´compact and sporty´ cockpit with its thick-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel, sporty three-dial instrument cluster beneath a tightly curved cowling and centre stack angled towards the driver.
All the controls are ergonomically designed to place them within easy reach of the driver´s hands and the overall layout has true elegance. Great attention has been given to the feel of how all the controls function so that even the most minor of switches has an appropriately tactile and satisfying quality when operated.
The instrument cluster has a ´high-tech´ appearance, with the large central speedometer flanked by a rev-counter (to the left) and water temperature and fuel gauges to the right. The dial graphics are detailed, precise and clear, while the ´high-tech´ look is enhanced by the use of red-orange illumination for the dials, audio equipment and switch gear.
For cee´d, Kia has adopted European-style steering column stalks with the control for the windscreen wipers on the right and turn indicators on the left.
A panel of switches on the driver´s door armrest allows control of the electric front and rear windows and the two electrically adjustable exterior mirrors. The driver and passenger windows have an auto up and down feature with safety sensors for added convenience on EX and TX versions.
´Floating´ style centre stack
The stylish centre stack is a key visual feature of the interior design and can be ordered with one of five different finishes. Designed so that it appears to ´float´ beside the driver, it features equipment arranged in logical, horizontal layers with the information centre above the tailor-made RDS audio system supplied by Siemens, which tops a strip of minor switches (including central locking and hazard flasher) and the heating/ventilation controls. Unusually, the stack is flanked by four large air vents - rather than the more commonly found two.
The centre stack sweeps down to meet the floor console which houses an oddments tray (with USB and AUX iPod®* connections on EX and TX trims), gear selector and hand-brake lever, twin cup-holders and large-capacity storage box topped by a padded armrest.
Seating for five in spacious comfort
The cee´d front seats are semi-bucket design with reclining backrests operated by a knurled rotary control. These multi-adjustable seats have wider cushions and backrests to offer superior support with generous proportions to accommodate drivers and passengers of all shapes and sizes. Adjustable lumbar support is available on both driver and passenger seats, which are supplied by Johnson & Controls.
All cee´d models are fitted with a 60/40 split rear seat cushion and backrest. To increase luggage space, the cushions tip forwards and the backrests fold complete flat, aligning neatly with the trunk floor. Slots to store the detachable rear head restraints when the seats are folded, are provided in the underside of the cushions.
Both LX and EX models feature a woven cloth seat upholstery, while TX models have part-leather seats and can be ordered with an even more luxurious ambience, thanks to full leather trim - available as an option on TX and EX models.
All five seats have manually adjustable head restraints and three-point seatbelts as standard. Integrated ´active´ head restraints will be standard on both the front seats of EX and TX models, marking the first time this technology has been applied to the C1-segment. During a rear impact, the integrated ´active´ head restraints move forwards to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries to the neck or back.
All-new diesel and high-power gasoline engines
For its all-new cee´d, Kia is offering customers a choice of five engines, ranging in power output from 90 to 140 ps, including an all-new, highly responsive 1.6-litre diesel engine designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe especially for use in this important newcomer, to further boost its appeal for C-segment car buyers.
Consumers are presented with a range of two diesel engines, three gasoline engine (all five are Euro4 compliant), five-speed or six-speed manual gearboxes and four-speed automatic transmissions, tailored to each engine´s characteristics - depending on model.
"Like every other aspect of new Kia cee´d, the theme of ´consumers multiple-choice´ continues with the power trains," comments Dr. Seog-Jae Lee, General Manager, Powertrain Engineering, Kia R&D Centre, Russelsheim. "Buyers will be able to select the combination of engine/transmission that best suits their motoring habits and lifestyle. Almost half of cee´d buyers (48%) are expected to order diesel-powered cars, while 95% of buyers will specify manual transmission."
All five engines available in the Kia cee´d feature technical innovations that deliver real benefits to the customer, while requiring less maintenance and feature enhanced durability. Those customer benefits include more power and torque without incurring higher fuel consumption, smoother running with lower vibrations and quieter operation.
Some of the cee´d engines will be available in certain markets with lowered maximum power to suit local taxation requirements, though their robust torque outputs are largely maintained for good drivability.
Higher power, lower consumption diesel
Made at Kia´s new facility in Slovakia, the all-new 1.6-litre CRDi four cylinder 16-valve diesel engine features a steel alloy block and an aluminium cylinder head, with a second-generation high-pressure common-rail fuel injection system. It is fitted with an electrically actuated advanced variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) to ensure lively performance and clean emissions. Its power and torque figures are highly competitive - 115 ps (84.6 kW) and 255.2 Nm (26.0 kg.m), respectively. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission and is expected to be the most popular engine choice among cee´d customers.
Consumers demanding higher performance can specify Kia´s improved, Korean-built 2.0-litre CRDi diesel engine that is also fitted in New Carens. This SOHC 16-valve CRDi unit also features second-generation common-rail technology, plus a VGT to generate 140 ps (103 kW) at 4,000 rpm and 305 Nm (31 kg.m) of torque from just 2000 rpm. The manual transmission fitted with this engine features six speeds.
For local taxation reasons, a ´lower-power´ version of both diesel engines will be offered in some markets. The low 1.6 produces 90 ps (66.2 kW) and 235.6 Nm (24.0 kg.m), while the low 2.0 gives 135 ps (99.3 kW) with the same 305 Nm (31 kg.m) of torque as the high-power unit.
Choice of three gasoline engines
cee´d can also be ordered with three class-competitive 16-valve gasoline engines - well proven Kia power units, further developed for use in this new model, and all fitted with performance-boosting continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) and upgraded electronic multi-point fuel injection.
All three engines (1.4, 1.6 and 2.0 litres) are supplied with a five-speed manual transmission as standard, while the 1.6 and 2.0 units can be ordered with a four-speed automatic gearbox.
The 1.4-litre engine creates a maximum power output of 109 ps (80.2 kW) at 6200 rpm, with 137.4 Nm (14.0 kg.m) of torque. The 1.6-litre unit produces 122 ps (89.7 kW) at 6200 rpm and 154.1 Nm (15.7 kg.m) of torque.
For the ultimate gasoline cee´d performance, Kia´s compact DOHC 1975cc gasoline engine generates a maximum of 140ps (103 kW) at 6,000 rpm, and 184 Nm (18.8 kg.m) of torque at 4,750 rpm (in this application).
As with the diesel engines, for local taxation reasons, a ´lower-power´ version of some gasoline engines will be offered in some markets.
cee´d has a ´tough not rough´ appearance, combining strongly solid forms with sensitively flowing lines, jewel-like detailing and a broad stance. It´s a design that points towards the future elements of Kia´s evolving design language - and those elements are a reflection of similar features first revealed in the Kia concept vehicle, of the same name, revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.
"We wanted to make cee´d as beautiful, as exquisitely detailed and precisely executed as possible," enthused Miklos Kovacs, Chief Designer ED programme, Kia R&D Centre, Russelsheim, Germany. "Kia set us several goals - to create a modern, distinctive, harmoniously balanced C-segment contender, to introduce the starting point for the new design DNA for Kia and to highlight that this car is a truly European design, a car designed in Europe, made in Europe, to fulfil 100% of European customer needs."
The cee´d has several of the core design elements of two earlier Kia cars - the Sorento SUV and Picanto small car. The cee´d surfaces are bold, the shoulders strong, with a good stance and feeling of solidity. Sorento has this solidity, but also some very flowing lines, from the grille and headlamps, over the bonnet and into the A-pillars.
With cee´d, the major flow-line runs from low on the nose spoiler, around the grille, over the bonnet, up the A-pillar, along the roof-rail, down the C-pillar and around the rear light clusters and into the bumper - enveloping the whole car.
"European car buyers are especially sensitive to vehicle proportions and can tell when a vehicle looks ´right´ - but it is a gut feeling. What is important with proportion is creating a ´game of tension´ and cee´d has a relatively long front to create more tension between front and rear. Through the clearly perceived quality of cee´d we want to establish a certain design standard for Kia to communicate to the outside world that we truly understand what quality is all about," added Kovacs.
Crafted to satisfy every buyer´s every sense
The style, execution, quality, fit and finish of the new Kia cee´d interior has been designed and developed to the highest standards to fully demonstrate the brand´s growing ´power to surprise´ before a European audience. Kia´s senior executives are now certain that when customers first open the door and step into cee´d they are going to be deeply impressed.
"The interior design of cee´d is so good that potential customers will experience ´love at second sight´ when they open the doors," enthuses David Labrosse, Manager Product Planning, Kia R&D Centre, Russelsheim. "cee´d presents customers with more closely matched materials, more soft-touch surfaces and more high quality fabrics made in Europe to suit local tastes. cee´d will give Kia buyers multiple choices and empower them to create their own interiors, their own world and their own atmosphere."
The cee´d front door hinges feature three ´detentes´ - the last position an extra-wide 70 degrees, as one of the key design briefs for Kia´s new C-segment challenger was to ensure easy of entry and excellent access both front and rear, plus class-best rear legroom.
The modern, clean design theme that characterises the exterior of Kia cee´d is replicated throughout the interior, which continues the new model´s theme of offering maximum consumer choice. "Not only will the cee´d be available with three trim/equipment levels, it will also present customers with the opportunity to choose between four interior concepts, five centre stack styles and seven different fabrics - depending on model," comments Ms. Dominique Raye, Design Manager Colour & Trim, Kia European Design Centre.
The four interior concepts are Basic, Rainbow (in Blue or Blush), Classic and Sporty. The centre stack can be finished in Black, Silver, Blue, Blush or Aluminium paint. The interior trim choices include: five fabrics - Grey, Blue, Blush (with wave pattern), Classic (with chevron pattern), Sporty (with the woven material replicating a tyre tread pattern) and two leathers, Grey and Black.
For the lighter colour-ways a policy of fitting darker upper surfaces and lighter lower surfaces is followed in order to prevent unwanted reflections, while maximising the sense of interior space.
Driver-focused cockpit and controls
Although the C-segment is a strongly family-oriented sector, the cee´d driver will enjoy the feeling of a ´compact and sporty´ cockpit with its thick-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel, sporty three-dial instrument cluster beneath a tightly curved cowling and centre stack angled towards the driver.
All the controls are ergonomically designed to place them within easy reach of the driver´s hands and the overall layout has true elegance. Great attention has been given to the feel of how all the controls function so that even the most minor of switches has an appropriately tactile and satisfying quality when operated.
The instrument cluster has a ´high-tech´ appearance, with the large central speedometer flanked by a rev-counter (to the left) and water temperature and fuel gauges to the right. The dial graphics are detailed, precise and clear, while the ´high-tech´ look is enhanced by the use of red-orange illumination for the dials, audio equipment and switch gear.
For cee´d, Kia has adopted European-style steering column stalks with the control for the windscreen wipers on the right and turn indicators on the left.
A panel of switches on the driver´s door armrest allows control of the electric front and rear windows and the two electrically adjustable exterior mirrors. The driver and passenger windows have an auto up and down feature with safety sensors for added convenience on EX and TX versions.
´Floating´ style centre stack
The stylish centre stack is a key visual feature of the interior design and can be ordered with one of five different finishes. Designed so that it appears to ´float´ beside the driver, it features equipment arranged in logical, horizontal layers with the information centre above the tailor-made RDS audio system supplied by Siemens, which tops a strip of minor switches (including central locking and hazard flasher) and the heating/ventilation controls. Unusually, the stack is flanked by four large air vents - rather than the more commonly found two.
The centre stack sweeps down to meet the floor console which houses an oddments tray (with USB and AUX iPod®* connections on EX and TX trims), gear selector and hand-brake lever, twin cup-holders and large-capacity storage box topped by a padded armrest.
Seating for five in spacious comfort
The cee´d front seats are semi-bucket design with reclining backrests operated by a knurled rotary control. These multi-adjustable seats have wider cushions and backrests to offer superior support with generous proportions to accommodate drivers and passengers of all shapes and sizes. Adjustable lumbar support is available on both driver and passenger seats, which are supplied by Johnson & Controls.
All cee´d models are fitted with a 60/40 split rear seat cushion and backrest. To increase luggage space, the cushions tip forwards and the backrests fold complete flat, aligning neatly with the trunk floor. Slots to store the detachable rear head restraints when the seats are folded, are provided in the underside of the cushions.
Both LX and EX models feature a woven cloth seat upholstery, while TX models have part-leather seats and can be ordered with an even more luxurious ambience, thanks to full leather trim - available as an option on TX and EX models.
All five seats have manually adjustable head restraints and three-point seatbelts as standard. Integrated ´active´ head restraints will be standard on both the front seats of EX and TX models, marking the first time this technology has been applied to the C1-segment. During a rear impact, the integrated ´active´ head restraints move forwards to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries to the neck or back.
All-new diesel and high-power gasoline engines
For its all-new cee´d, Kia is offering customers a choice of five engines, ranging in power output from 90 to 140 ps, including an all-new, highly responsive 1.6-litre diesel engine designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe especially for use in this important newcomer, to further boost its appeal for C-segment car buyers.
Consumers are presented with a range of two diesel engines, three gasoline engine (all five are Euro4 compliant), five-speed or six-speed manual gearboxes and four-speed automatic transmissions, tailored to each engine´s characteristics - depending on model.
"Like every other aspect of new Kia cee´d, the theme of ´consumers multiple-choice´ continues with the power trains," comments Dr. Seog-Jae Lee, General Manager, Powertrain Engineering, Kia R&D Centre, Russelsheim. "Buyers will be able to select the combination of engine/transmission that best suits their motoring habits and lifestyle. Almost half of cee´d buyers (48%) are expected to order diesel-powered cars, while 95% of buyers will specify manual transmission."
All five engines available in the Kia cee´d feature technical innovations that deliver real benefits to the customer, while requiring less maintenance and feature enhanced durability. Those customer benefits include more power and torque without incurring higher fuel consumption, smoother running with lower vibrations and quieter operation.
Some of the cee´d engines will be available in certain markets with lowered maximum power to suit local taxation requirements, though their robust torque outputs are largely maintained for good drivability.
Higher power, lower consumption diesel
Made at Kia´s new facility in Slovakia, the all-new 1.6-litre CRDi four cylinder 16-valve diesel engine features a steel alloy block and an aluminium cylinder head, with a second-generation high-pressure common-rail fuel injection system. It is fitted with an electrically actuated advanced variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) to ensure lively performance and clean emissions. Its power and torque figures are highly competitive - 115 ps (84.6 kW) and 255.2 Nm (26.0 kg.m), respectively. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission and is expected to be the most popular engine choice among cee´d customers.
Consumers demanding higher performance can specify Kia´s improved, Korean-built 2.0-litre CRDi diesel engine that is also fitted in New Carens. This SOHC 16-valve CRDi unit also features second-generation common-rail technology, plus a VGT to generate 140 ps (103 kW) at 4,000 rpm and 305 Nm (31 kg.m) of torque from just 2000 rpm. The manual transmission fitted with this engine features six speeds.
For local taxation reasons, a ´lower-power´ version of both diesel engines will be offered in some markets. The low 1.6 produces 90 ps (66.2 kW) and 235.6 Nm (24.0 kg.m), while the low 2.0 gives 135 ps (99.3 kW) with the same 305 Nm (31 kg.m) of torque as the high-power unit.
Choice of three gasoline engines
cee´d can also be ordered with three class-competitive 16-valve gasoline engines - well proven Kia power units, further developed for use in this new model, and all fitted with performance-boosting continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) and upgraded electronic multi-point fuel injection.
All three engines (1.4, 1.6 and 2.0 litres) are supplied with a five-speed manual transmission as standard, while the 1.6 and 2.0 units can be ordered with a four-speed automatic gearbox.
The 1.4-litre engine creates a maximum power output of 109 ps (80.2 kW) at 6200 rpm, with 137.4 Nm (14.0 kg.m) of torque. The 1.6-litre unit produces 122 ps (89.7 kW) at 6200 rpm and 154.1 Nm (15.7 kg.m) of torque.
For the ultimate gasoline cee´d performance, Kia´s compact DOHC 1975cc gasoline engine generates a maximum of 140ps (103 kW) at 6,000 rpm, and 184 Nm (18.8 kg.m) of torque at 4,750 rpm (in this application).
As with the diesel engines, for local taxation reasons, a ´lower-power´ version of some gasoline engines will be offered in some markets.