Kia Ex_Cee’d Cabrio Concept
February 23, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
This is the latest concept from Kia. Yes, its a Kia, and yes I am willing to admit that it looks good. This car is the work of new Kia Design Chief, Peter Schreyer, and Kia is quick to point out that the ex_cee’d gives a good idea about the future direction the look of Kia-brand vehicles will be taking.
The surprisingly good looking Kia is based on a pre-production prototype of the new three-door cee’d Sporty Hatch (which is set to go into production come December 2007). However whilst the ex_cee’d has the same wheelbase, it features all-new exterior panels, sharing only the floor-pan and unseen components with the donor car, plus a powered folding fabric roof.
Yes a fabric roof, not a metal one. Its not because its a Kia and the aim is to save money, Kia points out that by adopting a fabric roof, the ex_cee’d deliberately goes against the trend towards cabrios with folding metal roofs as the aim of the designer was to make a classic cabrio with a traditional soft-top roof:
“I’m convinced that the fabric roof will have a renaissance. We’ve all lived with the romantic idea of open-air driving for a long time and for me, metal-roofed cabrios are not truly in tune with this emotional conditioning.” Kia Design Chief, Peter Schreyer
You have to admit, that it is a very good looking car and certaintly, there is no reason why a Fabric roof can’t make a come back – and if Kia has the guts to start the trend, then good on Kia!
Kia is also so sure of the quality that (as these are the first-ever Kia cars designed and manufactured in Europe) it is giving all cee’d vehicles sold in Europe a 7-Year / 150,000 kilometre warranty which is transferable to subsequent owners. This is following a similar trend to Mitsubishi with its 10 year warranty in Australia.
With its slight wedge shape profile, muscular extended wings over 19-inch alloy wheels, and aggressive, dynamic front styling, the ex_cee’d has instantly found a form that stands out from the cabrio crowd. The cabrio concept is finished in ‘meringue white‘ exterior paint with a ‘bitter chocolate’ fabric roof – colours that are echoed by the interior’s two-tone leather.
“With this new cabrio concept car, Kia has once again demonstrated that it is a young, style-conscious company that knows how to combine elegance with dynamics. The Kia ex_cee’d is a fresh, aesthetic high-point in our history, an encouraging sign of the growing internationalisation of our brand and a step in the process of evolving into a European company with Korean roots.” enthused Mr Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO Kia Motors.
The Kia ex_cee’d cabrio concept, Kia cee’d Sporty Wagon and Kia Rio Hybrid sedan will be on display at the Geneva Motorshow from the 6th of March.
Print it: 
Wow, nice looking car BUT:-
1) Its still a KIA
2) Fabric roof
You can’t beat a hardtop for looks, sound proofing, and safety. I’m suprised that the new Porsche Boxster has stuck with the Fabric.
I think that soft tops look better, because they don’t have an extended boot but hard tops are the more practical option.
Looks alrite… but its still a kia
Its a great car, kia is heading in a new direction and i like it. love the wheels
Yes, it’s a good looker, but it’s still a concept car.
By the time it makes through the bean-counter filter, those nice 19″ rims will become 13″, and any other remaining beauty will be wacked with the ubiquitous Korean ugly stick.
Fingers crossed that this doesn’t happen though, coz if they get it right, this car will be a hit amongst 18-30 yo females.
I agree Foggy
Kia and Hyundai concepts tend to be very good looking… till they actually make it into production and the budget stick catches up with them.