What's the news?
Kia will debut a new, as yet unnamed, concept at the upcoming 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. The long and sleek concept was designed in Kia's European Design Centre in Frankfurt and, according to sources, is said to preview the next generation Kia cee'd. While the current Kia cee'd is one of the more handsome models in the competitive C-segment, the design team has stepped up its game judging by the initial image of the new concept.
The Korean car maker has had good form in recent years with its designs, particularly when it comes to motor show concepts. One such concept that is now heading for production is the Kia Stinger, little changed from the initial concept; that bodes well for the next Kia cee'd.
According to Kia, the concept presents a 'new body type' for the company. The car appears to blur the lines between estate and shooting brake, with Kia referring to it as 'an extended hot hatch'. Some current Kia styling carries across, such as a rear light bar that runs the full width of the tailgate, which is reminiscent of how the current Kia Sportage looks from behind. And like the Stinger, this new concept has a strong shoulder line running through the car's side with arches that appear to suggest a much wider track.
Anything else?
Being a concept, Kia is unlikely to place too much emphasis on the car's powertrain, but the company is moving towards greater levels of electrification within its range. Having already launched both the Niro and plug-in hybrid Optima, we expect the next cee'd also to offer some form of hybrid technology at a minimum.
We'll have to wait until the Frankfurt Motor Show opens on September 12th to see this new concept in its full glory, where hopefully we'll learn more about what the next-generation Kia cee'd will have in store.