Kia cee’d to receive a facelift this fall. A heavily camouflaged prototype spotted at the very famous Nurburgring in Germany.
This year marks three years since Kia first introduced the five-door cee’d hatchback to consumers in Europe. Created especially for European consumers, Kia’s new C-segment model marked a major turning point in the history of Korean second largest carmaker. The cee’d has been the first-ever Kia model that was designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe.
It’s also the first Korean car that received maximum five stars at EuroNCAP crash tests and has made the finals of European Car Of The Year (COTY) awards. And the list of accolades does not end here.
And now, three years since its introduction, the impressive Kia cee’d is coming in for a mid-cycle facelift. Spied while testing on the very famous Nurburgring, these latest spy shots reveal the 2010 cee’d will receive a plethora of exterior styling tweaks.
In front, the cee’d is expected to get a whole new front fascia, including Kia’s H-shapped signature grille and redesigned headlights, while changes at rear are foing to include a pair of subtly redesigned tail-lights. The interior is also expected to benefit from a mid-cycle refresh with an emphasis on quality to make the model even more appealing for the customers in Europe.
The 2010 Kia cee’d facelift will make its official European premiere at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show this fall, with sales projected to commence shortly afterwards. [Source: Autovandaag.nl]
I can already see a change I dislike- the side indicator has been moved to the mirrors. I guess this is to keep it similar to the Forte? I know they’ve been doing this a bit in the USA (Forte, Optima, Borrego) but I dislike it. Keep it on the fender! I think it looks tacky, and it adds weight and cost to the mirror assembly (adding electrical components and the lighting assembly- whether it’s a bulb like the Forte or LEDs like the Optima and Borrego). As for what little is visible of the facelift- it appears the low beams will be projector lamps (like the Optima/Magentis low beam, and Amanti/ Opirus’s front fog lights). The hood (bonnet) appears to be similar to the Forte, as do the side doors (the indentation in the lower part). The rims aren’t bad.
–
Cheers! 🙂
KIIII-AH!!!!!! I LOVE, WHAT, YOU-,DO, FOR MEEEEEEE!!!!!!
—
Nice Jingle.
Jason, Side Indcator=Premium/Luxury Feature. As KIA is moving upmarket from a bargain basement brand to a Premium Sporty Economy car brand they need to have these details and craftmanship on their cars.
HyundaiSmoke- I understand what they are trying to do. I am just encouraging them against it. Plus- think of this from a long perspective. If everyone follows the Mercedes type, they’ll still have to move back to putting the side indicator on the fender (or some other place?) when the future mirrors come out. Those mirrors that are merely cameras which barely stick out of the A pillar. I think that is where “mirrors” will go since it will significantly reduce the wind resistance that normally is hitting the mirrors. Why not just keep them in one uniform place, and not have to change anything when that change comes? Speaking of uniform, they should apply these indicators to all of their US vehicles, not just randomly choosing some. The Soul does not have them (there’s a rumor you can get the fender indicator as an accessory, but it’s not available right now, if ever), the Forte has them on some trims, the Borrego they’re standard, the Optima they’re standard. I don’t know if we will get them on the new Sorento, etc. The Soul is obviously the one that is not the norm for the newest vehicles… I would like to say Kia should not do this as a “premium/ luxury feature” but should do them standard on all vehicles as part of their “safety” initiative. And add Daytime Running Lights to all the vehicles in the USA.
–
🙂
well mercedes is redesigning their mirror mounted indicators for a sumwhat sharper look. i think i saw it on the lates C-class coupe or something. anyway, i think i see LED tail-lights?
Nice to see Kia getting serious about their suspension development and reliability testing! The Nordschleife is every petrolhead’s dream destination so Kia should get at least some recognition for this…
.
I really don’t see those camera mirrors taking off anytime soon. The mirror mounted indicators make the quarter panel look cleaner anyways.
.
Boris, I see the LEDs as well!
You got a point Pat. Jason, they have to get the tech affordable first before they take off. John Krafick talks about Hyundai being the Democritization of Luxury, and KIA being the Democritization of Premium Economy Sport. Democirtization=Low Entry Price Points/With high quality content. They have to continue on this strategy.
I still don’t like them in the mirrors, regardless of their reasoning. But you all know my stance on this. I am glad they have something though, since indicators on the side really is a safety feature. Anyone that does not live in America probably doesn’t realize (at least, not as easily) how convenient and effective they are. If you are approaching a place with someone attempting to turn left, and you see that indicator flashing, it’s clear they’re attempting to turn. Most vehicle’s front turn signals aren’t obvious until you’re very close, and you can’t let them turn if you’re sitting in front of them!
–
I don’t see how you all see LEDs in the lights, but I’m not arguing. I’m just saying I don’t see it. But if they do have LEDs that will be awesome. Doesn’t the Borrego/ Mohave have LEDs in Korea and some other markets?
–
Cheers.
–
🙂
PS: Sorry for confusion if you don’t understand what I am saying about the indicators and being in America. Since America seems to be the only place (well, one of the few places) that does not have these on many of their vehicles, we see the difference when one is around. If you are surrounded by them (anyone outside of America) you probably don’t even think about it, since every car has it. It’s the norm.
PPS: If Hyundai is the luxury mark, why do they have the sports car(s)?! Kia needs not just the Koup but the KEE as well…
Although the cee’d is an interesting car, I think Kia is losing sales by refusing to offer the Forte in Europe.
My ’08 Mitsu Lancer GTS has the side turn indicators and I would not really require them on subsequent vehicles I buy, but I do think they are better to have for safety reasons, then to not have.
Bernard, I don;t think Kia is losing sales by refusing to offer the Forte in Europe. There is no market for a c segment four door sedan in Europe. That is why the cee’d is a hatchback. Hatchbacks sell in Europe much better than sedans. Kia’s got it just right.
The LEDs are in the tail lights. Hyundai has the Genesis family because they had planned for it over 7 years ago and Kia had no plans for a RWD. Kia still needs to keep things affordable and RWD isn’t the answer right now.
Good to see people expressing different views. I think that the side marker lights on the mirrors are a good safety feature. As a native of Canada who has been in and out of the US and Europe I know that most cars in Europe do not have this feature on their car. It is a valued premium feature and in Europe premium cars and features normally cost a lor and and some would say an arm and a leg for many average people may I say. Also in Europe most cars companies despite their high prices give very poor warranties may I say. A whole two years, yes, woow two years are we not lucky for a whole two years and then some may find their cars falling parts and they have to pay again and again if they get a lemon. So here in Europe many are glad that Kia brought out this affordable vehicle and made it in Europe.