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New Models

2020 Kia XCeed Plug-in spied

PHEV version of the company's Euro-centric crossover hits the road for testing with sales anticipated to commence in the new year.


The upcoming Kia XCeed Plug-in has been spied during development testing in Europe, ahead of a likely launch in 2020.

It appears Kia Europe is really pushing ahead with its electrification rollout, having already released all variants of the electrified Niro crossover and 48V mild-hybrid versions of the Sportage SUV, while a plug-in hybrid version of the Ceed Sportswagon is due to hit European showrooms before the end of the year.

Next up will be the all-new XCeed crossover, which is due to launch in petrol and diesel forms across Europe in the coming months, with a 'Plug-in' model set to go on sale sometime in 2020.

Despite the heavy camouflage, we already know what the XCeed Plug-in will look like given the standard version has been revealed, with the main difference being the additional flap housing the charging port for the lithium-ion battery pack (above).

It's very likely the XCeed Plug-in will share its drivetrain with the Ceed Sportswagon Plug-in and Niro Plug-in – both of which team a 104kW/147Nm 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine with a 59kW electric motor and an 8.9kWh battery pack.

The Niro Plug-in claims to use just 1.3L/100km on the combined NEDC cycle, so we'd wager the XCeed Plug-in should be capable of similar figures given the similarities in size and body type.

Speaking with the UK's Autocar last October, Kia Motors Europe's marketing boss, Artur Martins, said the Korean brand is preparing for an electrification onslaught over the coming years in the region.

"We are going to need more electrification on other products in the future. We must get to a mix of around 25-30 per cent electrified models to hit the CO2 targets," he said.

Other electrified Kia models destined for the European market include the all-new Soul EV, while the company's upcoming twin to the fuel-cell-driven Hyundai Nexo could also be on the cards.


Australia

Kia's local division has already indicated it will focus on pure EVs rather than hybrids, confirming two all-electric models for the Australian market by 2021.

One of these will almost definitely be the Niro EV – shown as the e-Niro at the Paris motor show last year – and the other likely being the new Soul EV that was revealed in LA last November.

The XCeed is also off the cards for Australia given it's been designed and developed for the European market, with the new Seltos to tackle the small SUV segment Down Under when it arrives in the coming months. Stay tuned to CarAdvice for all the latest.

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