When Kia unveiled its Proceed Concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the company said the striking concept previews the brand’s next-generation C-segment C’eed hatchback, but it has emerged there’s more to it.
According to Autocar in the UK, a production Proceed Shooting Brake influenced heavily by the concept isn’t far from the showroom floor – at least in Europe.
Take away the concept’s long bonnet (and thus its sporty rear-wheel drive proportions), flush-fitting door handles and massive motor show wheels and you’ll be looking at the production car.
With Kia’s recent confidence gained from the acclaimed rear-drive Stinger GT, the company will position the shooting brake at the pointy end of the Proceed range as a high-end alternative to conventional C-segment wagons.
The next-generation Kia Proceed hatch is expected to debut in the first quarter of 2018, with the CLA-esque shooting brake following approximately 6 months later. It is unclear whether the new shooting brake will make it to Australia.
Kia Australia imported the previous-generation, European-built Pro-cee’d GT three door a few years ago as a sporty addition to the Cerato range, but a manual only proposition crippled its sales and led to its demise from Australia.
Let’s hope Kia’s European arm will offer the shooting brake with an auto transmission this time around.