Kia will eventually offer a performance version of its new three-door Proceed hatchback, but this is unlikely to join the line-up before the car’s mid-life facelift sometime in the next two years.
Kia insiders have said the platform is more than capable of handling a power plant in excess of 180bhp and have played around with suspension settings which give the car impressive grip and handling.
One Kia engineer said: “There is agreement at the highest level that a performance version of the Proceed would give us a great halo product, but we have to find the time the develop it properly.”
Less likely is a production version of the Ceed convertible concept seen at last September’s Frankfurt motor show.
Company insiders revealed that if the project were to go ahead it would have to be contracted out to a specialist manufacturer as there is insufficient production availability at Kia’s production plant in Slovakia, now making three body styles plus the recently introduced Sportage SUV. [Source: just-auto]
woooo! pro_cee’ds getting an xR! a car that that size and 180+bhp… combination for Xtreme racing! Way to go pro_cee’d
-Less likely is a production version of the Ceed convertible concept seen at last September’s Fra…-
MAN! no ex_cee’d? 🙁
That sucks. I was looking forward to seeing it.
Well, you will see it Dennis! It’s just that the sporty pro_cee’d will debut a bit later than anticipated.
Acording to some news (rumours) the sporty version of Pro_cee’d should be ready for production this year.
I read many articles stating it could hit the road from April to around the end of 08! Looks like those were wrong, or mybe not…??
Let’s wait and see what happens.
dang. i thought they were negotiating with a manufacturer 2 c if they can build it and the manufacturer really wanted to build the ex_ceed…
wtf.
cant w8 to c the uber_pro_ceed tho!
Dennis Says: That sucks. I was looking forward to seeing it.
himi Says: Well, you will see it Dennis! It’s just that the sporty pro_cee’d will debut a bit later than anticipated.
Acording to some news (rum….
himi, dennis was talking about ex_cee’d… I think.
Ups, my mistake!Sorry…
There were some talks going on between Kia and Karman company who produces cabrios for other companies also. If the Ex_cee’d was built, then it would be built by Karman company.
is that (manufacturing by karman) expensive?