Kia cee'd family expands with new Sporty Wagon
03/06/2007
Kia
Created especially for European consumers, the all-new Kia cee'd five-door hatchback model is already proving to be immensely popular. Now the cee'd family is expanding with the introduction of the Sporty Wagon, which makes its world premiere at the 77th Salon de l'Automobiles in Geneva this week in production form, with a unique extended tailgate for maximum accessibility to the luggage area.
The launch of the Kia cee'd family (five-door hatchback- from December last year, five-door Sporty Wagon - from August and three-door Sporty Hatch - from December) marks a major turning point in Kia's history. The bringing of this trio to the marketplace is the start of a new era. They are the first-ever Kia cars designed and manufactured in Europe and will introduce a qualitative revolution for the brand. The highest standards of engineering and European-style aesthetics have been applied to every aspect of their creation.
"The new Kia cee'd Sporty Wagon retains all the attributes of the cee'd hatchback and offers consumers extra practicality and versatility, with a unique extended tailgate design, while keeping stylish good looks with a truly sporty feel," enthused Mr Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. "With ride, handling and performance every bit as responsive as the hatchback, the Sporty Wagon will be available with the same wide choice of engines and specifications as its sister car. The Sporty Wagon is sure to delight existing Kia customers and to attract European consumers who have not yet considered our brand."
The 4.5-metre long cee'd Sporty Wagon has an unusually long wheelbase and will offer class-leading passenger and luggage space, plus highly competitive levels of equipment and state-of-the-art active and passive safety. Customers in Europe will be able to choose from a line-up of 18 Sporty Wagons, with three equipment levels (LX, EX and TX), five engines, with manual or automatic transmissions, and an extensive range of optional equipment. Improving on a great hatchback design
The trio of Kia cee'd models was conceived and created simultaneously, so the new Sporty Wagon has the same in-depth engineering integrity as the hatchback. The Sporty Wagon is a completely resolved design featuring fresh panels, its own distinctive styling and a special extended tailgate design that allows easy access to the luggage area.
While the 2,650 mm wheelbase is retained, to boost load carrying ability and versatility, the wagon's overall length is increased by 235 mm, with all of that increase behind the rear wheels, and overall height is up by 10 mm. Luggage capacity goes up to a total of 534 litres - loaded up to the bottom of the rear windows and including 55 litres of storage in moulded trays beneath the floor, fitted as standard. This is almost 200 litres more than the cee'd hatchback.
With the 60/40 split rear seats folded flat luggage capacity goes up to 1664 litres, 300 litres more than the cee'd hatchback in similar configuration. The cee'd Sporty Wagon's maximum capacity is 50-to-60 litres more than the Renault Megane and Opel Astra wagons.
Although capacity, practicality and versatility are key areas of consideration for wagon buyers, in today's highly competitive C-segment styling is also of paramount importance. Thanks to its early conception in the cee'd creative process, the Sporty Wagon has 'stand-alone' good looks despite a degree of commonality with other cee'd models.
From the nose to the B-pillars, hatchback and wagon share common components - even the rear side doors are the same - but the wagon has distinctive 'Z' shape rear pillars and 'L' shaped rear light clusters which, together with the increased length, give the wagon a very different appearance.
'Up and away' all-new unique tailgate
The tailgate on the cee'd Sporty Wagon is all-new, unique in the C-segment, and designed to give excellent access to the load area. Compared to the cee'd hatchback, the top hinges have been moved forward by 225 mm and the tailgate extended into the roofline by the same amount. Locating the hinges so far forwards changes the arc through which the tailgate swings when being opened. The outswing and upswing are reduced by 72 mm so that users can stand closer to the car and the tailgate can be fully opened, even in restricted parking spaces.
The all-new tailgate design gives the Kia cee'd Sporty Wagon one of the most accessible load areas in the C-segment. The length of the opening is 135 mm greater than the cee'd five-door hatchback and at 965 mm it is the biggest in the class. The depth of the opening is 855 mm (225 mm up on the hatch), so users will find it easy to load cargo without having to bend down when sliding items into the car.
The load area space (with the rear seats upright) measures 1021 mm deep at floor level, 764 mm deep at the window line, 1040 mm wide (between the wheel arches), and 1070 mm wide at the rear of the car.
Modern diesel and gasoline powertrains
For its new cee'd Sporty Wagon, Kia is offering customers the same choice of five Euro4 compliant engines and transmissions as the hatchback model. Power outputs range from 90 to 143 ps, including an all-new, highly responsive 1.6-litre diesel engine designed, engineered and manufactured by Kia in Slovakia.
"Sporty Wagon buyers will be able to select the combination of engine and transmission that best suits their motoring habits and lifestyle. Almost half of cee'd buyers (48%) are expected to order diesel-powered cars, while around 95% of buyers are likely to specify manual transmission," comments Dr. Seog-Jae Lee, General Manager, Powertrain Engineering, Kia R&D Centre, Russelsheim.
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 in Slovakia, the all-new 1.6-litre CRDi 16-valve diesel engine features 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). This engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission as standard or an optional four-speed automatic.
Consumers demanding higher performance can specify Kia's improved, Koreanbuilt 2.0-litre CRDi diesel engine. This SOHC 16-valve CRDi unit also features second-generation common-rail technology, plus a VGT to generate 140 ps (103 kW) and 304 Nm (31 kg.m) of torque. 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), while the low 2.0 gives 135 ps (99.3 kW).
Choice of three gasoline engines
The Kia cee'd Sporty Wagon can also be ordered with three class-competitive 16- valve gasoline engines - 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. The 1.4-litre engine creates a maximum power output of 109 ps (80.2 kW). The 1.6-litre unit produces 122 ps (89.7 kW). For the ultimate gasoline cee'd Sporty Wagon performance, Kia's compact DOHC 1975 cc gasoline engine generates a maximum of 143 ps (105.2 kW).
Smooth-shifting gears, plus automatic option
Although manual transmission will be the standard equipment on cee'd, two gasoline models (the 1.6 and 2.0 versions) and one diesel model (the 1.6) will be available with automatic transmission as an extra-cost option, although only 7-to- 10% of sales are expected to be automatics.
The cee'd automatic is a four-speed gearbox, featuring an electronic controller, which monitors a range of parameters, ensuring safe gear changes with excellent shift quality, and also adapts the transmission's characteristics to suit an individual's driving style.
Kia cee'd Sporty Wagon Powertrains
Type Capacity Power Torque Transmission
Diesel
1.6 115 ps 255 Nm 5-sp / 4-sp Auto
1.6* 90 ps 235 Nm 5-sp
2.0 140 ps 304 Nm 6-sp
2.0* 135 ps 304 Nm 6-sp
Gasoline
1.4 109 ps 137 Nm 5-sp
1.4* 105 ps 137 Nm 5-sp
1.6 122 ps 154 Nm 5-sp / 4-sp Auto
1.6* 115 ps 154 Nm 5-sp / 4-sp Auto
2.0 143 ps 186Nm 5-sp / 4-sp Auto
* lower-power versions for some markets to suit local tax regulations.
Interior crafted to satisfy every user's senses
"The interior design of cee'd is so good that when potential customers first open the door and step into cee'd they are going to be deeply impressed," enthuses David Labrosse, Manager Product Planning, Kia R&D Centre, Russelsheim. "We are presenting customers with more closely matched materials, more soft-touch surfaces and more high quality fabrics, to suit local tastes. Like the hatchback, the cee'd Sporty Wagon will empower Kia buyers to create their own interiors and their own atmosphere."
The Sporty Wagon 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 models was to ensure easy entry and excellent access both front and rear.
To optimise its practicality in the role of load-lugger, the cee'd Sporty Wagon gains six different equipment items. Five feature in the luggage compartment - a 12v power outlet in the side panel, twin side storage trays, an extended under-floor storage tray, roller-blind tonneau cover and an extending roller-style vertical luggage retaining net (optional). Outside, there are full roof rails to which a variety of bike, ski and luggage containers can be attached.
Driver-focused cockpit and controls
Although the Sporty Wagon is a strongly family and lifestyle-oriented model, the 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.
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.
All Sporty Wagon 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.
Wide range of choices with three equipment levels
Standard equipment for the three LX models includes: front, side and curtain airbags, speed-sensing automatic door locks, head restraints and three-point seats belts for all five occupants, central locking, electric front windows, fourspeaker audio system and audio controls on the steering wheel, plus an integrated information cluster with trip computer.
Buyers of the eight EX models benefit from 28 items of additional or upgraded equipment including: electric door mirrors, projection front fog lamps, manual airconditioning, keyless entry and anti-theft alarm, integrated 'active' head restraints for the front seats plus adjustable lumbar support, centre console with storage and armrest, twin front tweeter speakers and USB, AUX and iPod(R) connections.
Customers for the seven range-topping TX models will enjoy a cee'd that is also equipped with 16-inch alloys wheels, ESP and BAS, fully automatic airconditioning, leather pack interior, electric rear windows with auto up/down and safety sensors and a rear centre armrest.
Sophisticated selection of options
It is anticipated that many cee'd owners will find the options list attractive and will select extra equipment for their new cars. Kia will offer a choice of five styles of alloy wheel, 10 metallic exterior colours, solar glass and rain-expelling 'hydrophobic' glass, powered sunroof with safety sensor, three-stage front seats warmers, integrated Sat-Nav and in-dash 6-CD changer, plus Leather and Sport 'packs' and a range of 'Rainbow' and 'Classic' interior trim choices.
The 'Sport Pack' equipped Sporty Wagon on display at Geneva features a special radiator grille, black bezel headlamps, and 17-inch alloy wheels, plus additional interior sporty touches with alloy pedals, and contrasting grey stitching on the steering wheel, seats and centre console.
Chassis and running gear
Like the cee'd hatchback, the Sporty Wagon is fitted with fully independent front and rear suspension systems, designed to deliver crisp, responsive handling and a supple, comfortable ride on European roads, even when fully laden.
For the Wagon, spring and damper rates in the McPherson Strut (front) and 'inwheel multi-link' (rear) suspension are fine-tuned to accommodate this model's slightly increased weight and the same choice of steel and alloy wheels is available - all shod exclusively with Michelin tyres. All cee'd models come with a steel space-saver spare wheel - located in the trunk floor well.
To save fuel and deliver responsive handling in everyday driving, the Sporty Wagon also has Kia's latest MDPS (motor driven power steering) system. This electric power-assisted rack and pinion steering has relatively high gearing, with good 'feel' under all driving conditions.
One of the safest C-segment cars
Every cee'd Sporty Wagon has a powerful all-disc braking system featuring ABS anti-lock with EBD electronic brake force distribution. The TX model is equipped with ESP (electronic stability control) as standard, together with TCS (all-speed traction control) and BAS (emergency brake assist).
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. During a rear impact, these head restraints move forwards to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries to the neck or back.
Unique to the Kia cee'd family, innovative 'hydrophobic' glass will be an option for all door glass, on all Sporty Wagon models. Coated with a water repellent film, the hydrophobic glass enhances safety by encouraging rain to flow away quickly, leaving the driver with greatly improved visibility.
Every cee'd will be equipped with six airbags - dual front airbags, front side airbags and full-length curtain airbags, protecting the occupants in both seat rows.
Maximum customer choice and vehicle sensuality
Two core themes behind the introduction of the Kia cee'd hatchback are replicated in the Sporty Wagon - maximum customer choice and sensuality.
Maximum customer choice means that the Sporty Wagon will be available with five engines, three trim/equipment levels, four interior concepts, five interior centrestack styles, seven different trim fabrics and 12 exterior colours - in left- and righthand drive - so Kia can respond to individual customers personal tastes and build vehicles to meet their specific requirements.
Taking full advantage of the opportunity to produce a new model targeted at a specific group of consumers, rather than a car required to have universal appeal, Kia's design teams have created a family of cee'd cars to 'satisfy all your senses'. Adopting the core theme of sensuality, the designers were determined that cee'd would be attractive to see, nice to touch, pleasant to smell and a joy to hear - from the sound of the door opening, to the muted engine at idle, sporty exhaust rasp under acceleration and to the multiple choice of audio entertainment.
High-performing audio entertainment
As standard, all cee'd Sporty Wagon models come with a purpose-built RDS radio/single CD player, with MP3 compatibility, and four audio speakers, plus audio controls on the steering wheel.
Both the EX and TX models will have USB and AUX iPod(R)* connections in the centre console, so Sporty Wagon owners can play their favourite music through the car's speakers, which include front tweeters for good treble tone definition. *iPod is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc.
Revolutionary Kia 7-Year Warranty
In Europe, the new Kia cee'd Sporty Wagon will come with the same extended warranty package as the hatchback cee'd models - as standard.
In fact, every Kia in the cee'd family marketed by Kia Motors Europe will benefit from a 7-year / 150,000 kilometre new car warranty. The 'best' new vehicle warranty ever offered in Europe, the Kia warranty will be free and transferable to subsequent owners.
Thanks to the high quality of vehicles coming from Kia's brand-new facility in Slovakia, Kia is demonstrating its commitment to maximum customer satisfaction and lowered costs of vehicle ownership, by offering this revolutionary warranty. Kia views this warranty as an important long-term customer relations measure. It comprises five years bumper-to-bumper cover on the entire car and an additional two years cover on the powertrain.
Pre-launch orders point to a Big Success
"When we launched the Kia cee'd hatchback we knew it was going to be Kia's best-ever challenger for C-segment honours in the European marketplace. We were confident it would revolutionise Kia's fortunes in this sector.
After the first press drives in late 2006, media reaction was overwhelmingly positive and before cee'd was on sale across Europe in January, Kia had received more than 17,000 pre-orders for its newcomer.
"The Kia cee'd is a Kia that looks better, feels better and drives better. I think it really is a great car and the challenge for our dealer network will be getting people to try it for themselves. Once consumers have seen it, touched it, sampled its performance and learned about our 7-year warranty, they will surely be convinced that a decision to buy this car is indeed the right choice," concluded Jean-Charles Lievens.