Kia has revealed the latest Proceed model in shooting brake format. This sleek-looking five-door coupe has incorporated many elements from the three-door hatchback Proceed concept and brought it to the road.
The car has been European-designed and engineered and will be built in Slovakia. It will go on sale from the start of 2019. Pricing will be announced in due course.
Choices – GT-Line & GT
The new Proceed will be exclusively available in two trim levels: the GT-Line or the high-performance GT model.
The GT-Line has all the sporty looks but an engine optimised for economy. The GT has both the looks and the high-performance engine.
Impressive Shooting Brake Design
Set to make its debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, the hatchback has a fresh looking shooting brake design.
On the rear of the car, the standout feature is the windscreen which is sloped at 64 degrees from vertical, which is very unique in car design. Its looks are highly desirable for a practical vehicle.
Despite looking longer, the Proceed is only 5mm longer than the Ceed Sportswagon. The roofline sits 43mm lower than the Sportswagon, further emphasising the sporty look.
At the back of the car, you will notice that the GT and GT-Line boast a dual tip exhaust pipe. On the centre of the tailgate, you will also see the name Proceed spelt out in capitals making sure that everyone knows what this model is.
The rear light signature is a very unique look with the LED tail lights spanning almost the entire width of the car. It is safe to say that the Proceed will stand out at night time.
Looking past the obvious, we are told that lots more has changed from the Ceed to Proceed with only the bonnet and front wings being the same. Every other panel is new.
Customisation For Your Own Look
Interested buyers will be happy to hear that there will be a choice of ten model colours. Wheel-wise, the GT-Line can have 17 or 18-inch wheels, whilst the Proceed GT comes with 18-inch alloys as standard.
Eyes On The Interior
The new Proceed interior is of high quality with a good use of soft materials around.
To make the cabin feel sportier, you will notice as you get in that there are metallic scuff plates. On the inside, there is now a black cabin liner, rather than grey. But most importantly, there is a flat-bottomed steering wheel and if you opt for DCT, you will receive a set of metal alloy paddles to change gears.
To complement the racing feel, the front driver and passenger get new sports seats with tight side bolsters to keep you firmly in place. They are wrapped in black leather and suede with contrasting stitching, depending on the trim level you choose.
The infotainment system features prominently with a seven-inch touchscreen, which is well executed by Kia.
Driving Characteristics Expectations
Built for European roads, the ride and handling have been overseen by Albert Biermann who has a wealth of experience in this area; most recently with the development of the Hyundai i30N and the Kia Stinger.
The suspension has been fine-tuned to accommodate the lower ride and adjusted external body shape. To further aid the handling performance, all versions of the car will come with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres making the most out of all the contact with the road.
Engine Performance Options and Figures
The Proceed GT-Line` will come with a choice of three engines:
Petrol – 1.0-litre T-GDI 120 PS 172 NM / 1.4-litre T-GDI 140 PS 242 NM
Diesel – 1.6-litre CRDi 136 PS 280-320 NM
All engines offer a manual gearbox with the 1.4-litre petrol and 1.6 diesel having a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission option.
The GT model is powered by a high-performance 1.6-litre T-GDI engine, which is also found in the Ceed GT. It creates 204 PS and 265 Nm of torque. This engine will be available with the seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. No official performance figures have been released for the car yet.
If you go for the DCT version, you will get the Drive Mode Select System allowing you to actualise either normal or sport driving modes. One is optimised for economy and the other for flat-out performance.
Practicalities
As good as the car looks, it is actually still very practical. The longer chassis gives the model around 50% more boot space than the Ceed, at 594 litres.
The boot has a Smart Power Tailgate that opens automatically when the key is in close proximity. This will help you when your hands are full and trying to access the car.
Strong Warranty
Staying strong to Kia’s foundations, the Proceed comes with the reassurance of a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. As ever, this will help with residual prices and those who want long-term worry-free motoring.
Verdict – Looks Great
The new Kia Proceed certainly looks the part: it stands out and is desirable to own. If the price and performance specs make sense then the only thing you need to figure out is what colour to choose!
