Car Review Kia Unleashes Hot Little Pro-cee'd Hatchback

Kia took the sheets off what promises to be the hottest member of its cee'd family on Thursday, the aptly named three-door Pro-cee'd hatchback. The Pro-cee'd is aimed squarely at the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Kia said production is slated to kick off in November, with customer sales in Europe starting in early 2008. No word yet on whether Kia plans to bring the Pro-cee'd to the U.S.

Kia described the Pro-cee'd as "based closely on the earlier Pro_cee'd concept shown at the Paris auto show in 2006. Speculation at that time was that the production version of the concept would include a diesel, but Kia did not release specifications on the Pro-cee'd. The four-seat concept car put a premium on sportiness with a three-spoke steering wheel and brown leather trim. The production model has been developed by Kia's European design studio under the direction of Peter Schreyer. Kia said the Pro-cee'd will be "longer, lower and lighter than its five-door sister car." It will be built in Slovakia.