Photo: Kia
Kia (and Hyundai’s) ascent has been, to our eyes at least, one of the most impressive feats the industry has witnessed in modern times, reaching a level at which they now challenge the best, despite the fact that 5 years ago, people only bought their products because of the monetary incentive - they were very cheap and reliable.
Now, however, they have established themselves as very good mainstream manufacturers which can now take things even further and begin to win some territory in the various niche markets which have cropped up over the years. Now, according to autocar.co.uk, Kia are looking into making a Euro-style hot hatchback, specifically to steal away customers from the likes of the Renault Megane RS, Ford Focus ST or the ever-present-yet-slightly-underpowered VW Golf GTI.
The British publication got a statement from Soon-Nam Lee, Kia’s Overseas Marketing Director, who said “We are preparing turbocharged engines [. . .] We are tuning suspension and we are preparing a Golf GTI rival.” We say the car will most likely be a hot version of the three-door variant of the upcoming all-new Cee’d. Furthermore, considering the fact that the group already has access to the excellent Theta II 2.0-liter petrol engine which currently produces 274 hp in the Optima, it is definitely the engine they will be using in the hot Cee’d - will probably not make the full 274 hp, though.
This is very interesting news, as the announcement of a new hot-hatch should be. We will keep you up to date!
The British publication got a statement from Soon-Nam Lee, Kia’s Overseas Marketing Director, who said “We are preparing turbocharged engines [. . .] We are tuning suspension and we are preparing a Golf GTI rival.” We say the car will most likely be a hot version of the three-door variant of the upcoming all-new Cee’d. Furthermore, considering the fact that the group already has access to the excellent Theta II 2.0-liter petrol engine which currently produces 274 hp in the Optima, it is definitely the engine they will be using in the hot Cee’d - will probably not make the full 274 hp, though.
This is very interesting news, as the announcement of a new hot-hatch should be. We will keep you up to date!
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