Kia Proceed (2012) first offical pictures

Kia will launch the next derivative of the Ceed at the Paris motor show: the Proceed three-door model. It follows the Sportswagon estate and regular hatch, and will likely keep the same range of four-cylinder engines and six-speed gearboxes.

Like the last Proceed, the new car gets an unfortunately silly name, which we won't dignify with its shameful grammar here. The recipe for for the car itself remains the same too: a more rakish, three-door bodystyle with bespoke panels and rear lights, based upon the platform of the five-door Ceed.

Kia says the new car features all the improvements from the other Ceed models, while 'dramatically progressing the enhanced sporty appearance'. There's a far more rakish profile, wider shoulders and sleeker rear lights that cut into the car's swollen flanks. Add in the natty alloy wheels and it's certainly more aggressive-looking than the normal car.

The interior is carried over, but given how suerpior it is to the old car, that's no bad thing; in fact, it's ripe for a game of 'spot the European influences'. That gear selector? Very Audi S-tronic. And see the way the dash is grouped and angled towards the driver? Looks rather like the cabins of the mk7 VW Golf and new Seat Leon to us.

To really up the tempo, Kia needs a proper hot hatch version, and the new Proceed could spawn just that. CAR's sources have heard that Kia are already toutinga hot version of the Soul crossover, said to be on the way with around 200bhp.

Applying that powerplant to the Proceed could make for an interesting alternative to the GTI, ST and RS establishment. But would you buy a Kia-badged hot hatch? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

By Ollie Kew