Kia cee’d sports wagon

Kia today revealed the first image of its all-new C-segment estate model, the cee’d ‘sporty wagon’. I am not sure why its not called a sports wagon? Perhaps Kia don’t want it to dissapoint, since its not really sports.. its just.. sporty. Anyway the car will be shown in public for the first time at the Mondial de L’Automobile in Paris next week prior to its European launch in mid-2007.

The new Kia is 4470mms long, 1490mms high and the new model becomes the second model in the new Kia cee’d family of cars. As a first in the C-segment, it features a tailgate shaped like an inverted ‘L’ with its hinges set back over the load area so the tailgate rises almost vertically, giving enhanced access to the large-capacity cargo area that features additional storage below the floor.

The sporty wagon has the same 2650mm wheelbase as the five-door hatchback cee’d that makes its world premiere in production-ready form at the Paris Motor Show and goes on sale this December. Kia says that once the cee’d sporty wagon goes on sale in Europe next September, customers will be offered an extensive choice of five engines, three trim/equipment levels and 12 exterior colours.

It seems like Kia is really trying to lift its game, I have to admit, the cars look pretty good! I mean I always used to think of Kia’s as cheap Korean cars, but these are the first-ever Kia models designed and manufactured in Europe! I am guessing Kia is hoping this will change the attitude towards Kias’ “cheap and chearful” past.