Kia XR Performance Range
May 23, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
First it was Hyundai to announce its ambitions plans to bring the V8 Hyundai Genesis (there are also rumours the new Hyundai Tiburon will be a rear-wheel drive turbo) and now Kia, Hyundai’s sister company is expanding its range to include an “XR” performance series.
Unfortunately for Kia, in Australia the “XR” brand might pose a problem, given that Ford Australia already uses this branding for all its performance range here, with the XR8/XR6/XR5 and the soon to be released Fiesta XR4, Kia might have to rethink the name down under, but the name is a minor issue.
Autocar reports that Kia are planning to introduce a whole range of performance sedans and hatchbacks in the next three years. Kia showed of its ambition by teasing journalists when it revealed this re-styled, XR-badged Kia Cee’d at a press conference near the company’s Korean head quarters last week.
Although the car pictures is simply just a standard Kia Cee’d with a body kit, Kia has confirmed that the actual XR range will have some go to match the show. Apparently, Kia intends to have turbo and supercharged engines for its XR range.
“Turbocharged engines would be aimed at Europe and supercharged engines at the American market because of different customer demands,” Autocar Reports.
We hope the rumours are true and Kia does bring out the XR range in Australia (albeit mostly likely with a different name).
We just hope it won’t be the case of another Kia Rio, WRX STi copy (pictured). Kia needs to be original with its design to attract its target youth audience with the XR range.
Kia’s plans are to increase its market share and improve its image in the next 3 years. Kia aims to increase sales from 1.32m globally (2006) to 2.5m by 2010.
There is currently no word from Kia Australia regarding the XR range, if they are still waiting for public reaction, let us be the first to say, please Kia, bring the turbo/super charged variants to Australia!
Print it: 
Ahaha! Kia and Performance.. is that an oxymoron?
I’m seeing a Legacy/Liberty grill, and a Mazda3 side profile, but hey: it’s still nicer looking than the new Impreza – in all its forms.
Amanda I think your right!
The car itself doesnt look too bad,
but what is with the spray-on gold alloys and glued on front bodykit?
Any interior shots available for this yet?
KIA Performance car, accelerates from 0-150 in less than 10 seconds…. if you drive it off a cliff :)
But seriously, it doesn’t look too bad, kinda Mazda/Focus look about it. Any news on the engine spec? or is that an optional extra?
No other news at the moment guys apart from the the “it will have a turbo or super charger” the turbo being for Europe (and AUS I would assume) and the supercharger being for the States where a turbo is regarded as “inferior”
It looks like a Corolla from the back.
I hope they bring it out here. It might shake up the competition.
It’s a truth everyone I think needs to look at and accept. The Korean’s are making good cars these days.
Cheers
Steve
We’ll I wouldn’t go as far as to say Good. But cheap and ok rather than cheap and nasty. The Koreans have given us a lot to talk about in the last 12 months. Everthing from the first Korean performance cars, to the first V8. And looking at the us Chev site (http://www.chevrolet.com) it appears the 2007 Aveo is a 5 star car. So i’m guessing the next installment of the Barina will be much improved in the safety stakes.
But personally i’d still rather pay more for my Jap/Euro cars :)
don’t hate on the kia’s I have a little 4 cyclinder sephia that will blow shit away hitting 11.87