2015-02-20 07:00
A new Kia Cee’d GT Line has been revealed and will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The sporty specification will be available across all three bodystyles – Cee’d, Pro_cee’d and Cee’d SW – and also sees the introduction of a new 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and seven-speed dual clutch gearbox.
The GT Line spec will sit below the range-topping Cee’d GT and Pro_cee’d GT models, adding similar styling cues, but without the 201bhp turbocharged engine. All GT line cars get the same LED daytime running lights, as well as beefier bumpers, twin exhausts and new 17-inch alloy wheels. The Sportswagon estate boasts a subtle rear diffuser, while all models get eye-catching side skirts and LED tail lights.
[gallery:1]
The sporty theme continues inside, with new white, grey and black upholstery with grey stitching, new GT Line logos and piano black trim on the dash. It also gets the same leather steering wheel and alloy pedals as the flagship Cee’d GT.
As well as all the styling upgrades, Kia is using the Geneva Motor Show as a platform for its new 1.0-litre T-GDI turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine. This downsized unit produces 118bhp with 172Nm of torque, and is said to have been engineered to deliver less CO2 than the existing 1.6. Fuel consumption figures will be announced closer to the car’s on sale date, but expect more than 55mpg, and CO2 emissions of less than 120g/km.
[gallery:3]
In addition to the three-pot turbo, Kia has also updated its 1.6-litre CRDi diesel – boosting power from 126bhp to 131bhp. Torque is up by 20Nm too, to 285Nm. Kia says that despite the boost in power, buyers should also see improvements in CO2.
Alongside the new turbo engine and improved diesel, Kia will also debut its brand-new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Perhaps surprisingly, the DCT gearbox will only be available on cars equipped with the 1.6 CRDi engine, but should offer vastly improved running costs over the conventional six-speed torque converter.
[gallery:4]
The Kia Cee’d GT Line will go on sale towards the end of 2015, with prices announced at a later date. The 1.0-litre turbo engine and dual-clutch gearbox will both make their way into other Kia models in due course, though exactly which ones is still to be confirmed.