Kia Motors Europe will unveil a new Kia cee’d ‘GT Line’ specification at the 85th Salon International de l’Automobile in Geneva on 3 March 2015.
In addition to a range of visual upgrades, the new cee’d GT Line signifies the arrival of Kia’s all-new downsized 1.0-litre T-GDi (turbo gasoline direct injection) engine and new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in Europe.
The new GT Line offers buyers the sporty looks of the high performance Kia cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT and the versatility of the conventional cee’d model family. The GT Line specification is available on all three cee’d body types – five-door cee’d, three-door pro_cee’d and cee’d Sportswagon.
The exterior of the GT Line evolves the design language of the cee’d GT, with ice-cube LED daytime running lights and deeper bumpers surrounding Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger-nose’ grille. At the rear of the car, both the cee’d hatchback and pro_cee’d include the wider GT bumper and twin exhausts, while the Sportswagon is fitted with dual exhausts and a subtle rear diffuser. All GT Line models are fitted as standard with the GT model’s eye-catching side sill mouldings and rear LED light units, and a stylish new 17-inch alloy wheel design.
The interior of the cee’d GT Line has been uprated with a higher quality, sportier ambience, inspired by the cabin of the current turbo-powered GT models. The GT Line boasts a classy, new grey, white and black upholstery with grey stitching; a series of GT Line logos throughout the cabin; and the same piano black and leather steering wheel and aluminium alloy pedals fitted to Kia’s high-performance GT models. The dashboard is also equipped with a new aluminium start-stop button, GT-inspired centre fascia design, illumination for the USB and aux-in ports and new chrome trim around the air vents and power window switches.
For the launch of the cee’d GT Line, Kia is introducing its all-new 1.0-litre ‘T-GDi’ engine, a downsized, three-cylinder power unit engineered to improve fuel consumption and emissions while offering strong, willing performance and immediate responses to driver input. This is the first of Kia’s upcoming range of downsized engines to make its debut in Europe.
The 1.0-litre T-GDi engine produces 120 ps and 172 Nm torque, and has been engineered to deliver lower CO2 emissions than the 1.6-litre GDI engine found in other cee’d models, pending final homologation closer to the GT Line’s launch. The 1.0-litre cee’d GT Line is also equipped with Kia’s fuel-saving ISG system as standard which improves emissions and fuel economy, and is available with a six-speed manual transmission.
Kia’s new turbocharged engine, developed in-house at the company’s Namyang R&D centre in Korea, features a high-pressure direct injection system, advanced engine cooling and an integrated exhaust manifold for cleaner emissions and efficient packaging.
Immediate engine response and highly-efficient combustion were cornerstones of the engine’s development, fulfilling Kia’s sustainable engine downsizing strategy. The all-new 1.0-litre T-GDi engine will be fitted to other vehicles in Kia’s European model line-up in future.
The cee’d’s 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine has also been upgraded for its application in the new GT Line variant, with power increased from 128 to 133 ps and torque from 265 to 285 Nm. With the small increase in performance, the engine’s full torque is now available from lower engine speeds for more effortless acceleration under all road conditions.
Despite the increase in power and performance, however, CO2 emissions are expected to fall slightly once the homologation process is complete.
The Kia cee’d GT Line will be available from Kia dealers across Europe in Q4 2015, offering the company’s unique 7-Year, 100,000 mile warranty as standard.
