Kia pro_cee’d GT goes on sale – price from £19,995

The new Kia pro_cee’d GT (pictured) is now on sale in the UK

The Kia pro_cee’d GT – a decent stab at a hot hatch from Kia – arrived in January, ahead of a public debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. And now it’s on sale in the UK.

The pro_cee’d GT gets Kia’s 1.6 litre petrol aided by a turbo to produce appealing figures of 201bhp and 195lb/ft of torque, enough to scoot the GT to 62mph in 7.4 seconds and on to 143mph. Official fuel economy is 38.2mpg and emissions 171g/km Kia has had a play under the pro_cee’d too to help it cope with more power than you’d normally get in a Kia with re-tuned suspension, re-tuned steering (and the deletion of the Flex Steer function), bigger brakes and a few sporty cosmetic tweaks inside and out.

Those cosmetic tweaks amount to new butch bumpers, bigger sills, red highlights, new grill, chrome strips and 18″ graphite grey alloys.

Inside there’s part leather Recaro seats (with GT and Recaro logos) with contrast red stitching, stainless steel pedals, high gloss black trim, TFT LCD display in the instrument cluster and stainless steel kickplates on the sills.

Two trim levels are on offer – GT and GT Tech – with even the entry-level GT – which costs from £19,995 – getting AirCon, Cruise, Auto lights, cornering lights, parking sensors, Bluetooth, CD with iPod connection, electric windows and mirrors and privacy glass.

There’s also a proliferation of safety acronyms including ESC, VSM, HAC, ABS, EBD and BAS.

Move up to the GT Tech Spec – which costs from £22,495 – and you can add in a 7″ Touchscreen with SatNav, Reversing camera, heated fron seats and steering wheel, Keyless entry and push-button start, Auto wipers, Climate, Xenon lights and adaptive lights.

Whether you opt for GT or GT Tech spec you will have the choice of just 3 colours - Track Red, Fusion White Phantom Black (all metallic)  - and a Hobson’s choice of black interior.

If you want to splash a bit more cash on the pro_cee’d GT – £23,995 – you could opt for the GT 1st Edition – of which Kia are making just 500, all in Fusion white – which adds in high gloss black inserts in the alloys and door mirrors, electric sunroof, red ambient lighting, GT floor mats and illuminated GT sill plates.

The new Kia pro_ee’d GT is now on sale and will be joined by the 5-door Cee’d GT later in the year.

By Cars UK