The all-new Kia Ceed ‘GT’ is more accomplished and fun-to-drive than ever and made its public debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, alongside the all-new ProCeed ‘GT’ and Ceed ‘GT-Line’.
The original cee’d ‘GT’ and pro_cee’d ‘GT’ were launched in 2013, representing the first ever performance hatchbacks from a Korean brand. The Kia Ceed ‘GT’ picks up where its predecessors left off, with an assured, engaging drive and a powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, as well as a comprehensive range of comfort, safety and convenience technologies.
Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, comments: “Our first ‘GT’ models were important for Kia. They laid a blueprint for future performance cars from the brand and proved there was a genuine appetite for faster and more engaging “driver’s cars” from Kia. The cee’d ‘GT’ and pro_cee’d ‘GT’ provided the impetus for cars such as the Stinger and Optima ‘GT’ and introduced a sporty design appeal that has inspired a range of popular ‘GT-Line’ models across our product line-up.”
Herrera adds “The all-new Ceed ‘GT’ occupies a unique position in the mid-size family car segment and doesn’t simply chase the highest top speed or fastest straight-line acceleration. It offers greater agility and grip on winding roads, maximum confidence and comfort at a cruise, and fast-revving turbocharged power perfectly matched to European tastes.”
Ceed ‘GT-Line’ takes design cues from the higher-powered ‘GT’
Strengthening the appeal of Kia’s new mid-size family car range, the new Ceed ‘GT-Line’ draws inspiration from Kia’s new high-powered Ceed and ProCeed ‘GT’ models, both ‘GT-Line’ variants offers a high level of versatility, turbocharged engines and engaging handling, topped with a sporty new look inside and out.
The Kia Ceed ‘GT-Line’ is available with a choice of powertrains: Kia’s 118bhp 1.0-litre and 138bhp 1.4-litre T-GDi (Turbocharged Gasoline Direct injection) engines, or Kia’s 134bhp 1.6-litre ‘Smartstream’ CRDi (Common-Rail Direct injection) diesel engine. The downsized range of powertrains contribute to the car’s agile handling characteristics. An even higher specification Ceed ‘GT-Line S’ model features the 138bhp 1.4-litre T-GDi powerplant paired exclusively to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, comments: “The all-new Ceed ‘GT-Line’ takes design inspiration from the new high-powered Ceed ‘GT’ and will appeal to a wider audience as a result. Since its launch in Europe earlier this year, the all-new Ceed has been widely praised for its comprehensive array of technologies, efficiency and engaging driving character. The ‘GT-Line’ builds on another of the Ceed’s key strengths – its design.”
What makes an all-new Ceed ‘GT’ a ‘GT’
The Ceed ‘GT’ features a sporty exterior design to differentiate it visually from other models in the Ceed range. Where the design of the Ceed range is characterised by its blend of taut creases and curvaceous sheet metal, the ‘GT’ variant presents a more athletic proposition than conventional versions of the car.
At the front, the Ceed ‘GT’ has a new front bumper design, incorporating larger air intakes and gloss black trim along the base. Like the standard Ceed, the ‘GT’ features a modern interpretation of Kia’s four-lamp ‘ice-cube’ LED daytime running lights, integrated into the main headlamp unit. Kia’s tiger-nose grille is also adapted for the new model, with a dark chrome surround and a subtle ‘GT’ logo. The honeycomb grille pattern is also embedded with subtle red highlights.
In profile, it is finished with a glossy chrome window surround and features more substantial side sills, finished in gloss black and red. The standard 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels feature a new castellated centre cap finished in red, and house red brake calipers. At 135mm, the ride height is reduced by 5mm over other Ceed variants, making it appear more planted on the road and reducing the overall centre of gravity.
A unique ‘GT’ bumper at the rear complements that found at the front, housing a subtle gloss black rear diffuser, as well as ‘GT’ badging. A small roof spoiler helps channel air cleanly off the top of the car.
The Kia Ceed ‘GT’ will be available in the UK with a choice of four paint finishes, with its own unique 18-inch alloy wheel design. It is already in production at Kia’s Zilina production facility in Slovakia, alongside the Ceed, ProCeed and Ceed Sportswagon.
Sports-focused interior with everyday versatility
The Ceed ‘GT’ features a series of changes to its cabin to separate it from non-GT models in the Ceed family line-up, with a sportier interior ambience. The ‘GT’ variant is built around the same ergonomic cabin architecture as other models in the model range. Surfaces are finished in high-quality soft-touch materials and metallic trim, while the dashboard is angled towards the driver, making it easier to use on the move. At the centre of the dashboard is Kia’s ‘floating’ touchscreen infotainment system – 8.0-inches wide – with audio, heating and ventilation controls situated below.
A black roofliner, enveloping and cocooning occupants, replaces the grey cloth found in standard Ceed models. Every ‘GT’ model features a leather D-shaped steering wheel bearing the ‘GT’ logo, as well as aluminium driver pedals. Front passengers in the Ceed ‘GT’ are held in place by Kia’s new sports seats. Created exclusively for the model, these seats provide larger, firmer side and thigh bolsters compared to the original cee’d ‘GT’. Seats are trimmed in black leather and faux suede and finished with red stitching and a red-stitched ‘GT’ logo in the seat back.
For many drivers, a performance hatchback has to be able to fit seamlessly into their daily lives – for many owners, it may be the only car they have access to. Practicality is therefore essential – and the Ceed ‘GT’ model is more practical than most, featuring the same large 395-litre boot as non-‘GT’ variants of the Ceed. Its low boot lip is 87mm lower compared to the previous-generation model, making it easier to load and unload heavy or bulky items. A split-level boot floor allows owners to lower or raise the height of the boot floor, to accommodate larger cargo or create a hidden compartment beneath. 60:40 split-fold rear seats are fitted as standard, which fold down with a single touch from a lever just inside the tailgate.
Accomplished, engaging and agile – European-developed ride and handling
Home of the performance hatch, Europe is characterised by its diverse driving conditions: high speed motorways, zig-zagging alpine routes, congested city centres and winding country lanes. The Kia Ceed ‘GT’ has been developed to master all these environments.
The Ceed ‘GT’ has been engineered and developed exclusively for European roads and European drivers. At the direction of Albert Biermann, Head of Research & Development Division, Hyundai Motor Group, the car has undergone six months of additional testing, above and beyond the standard Ceed model line-up. The brief was to enhance cornering agility and yaw behaviour, increase traction and responsiveness, and retain the ‘gran turismo’ spirit of everyday usability that defines all Kia performance cars.
The ‘GT’ model is fitted with the same fully-independent suspension hardware as the Ceed. However, the half-year of additional fine-tuning to the suspension geometry has rendered it more agile and more engaging to drive. The performance hatchback sits 5mm lower than the standard Ceed, reducing the centre of gravity. Stiffer front and rear springs reduce body roll, improve responses to steering inputs, and give the car a firmer, more assured ride in all conditions – crucially, without rendering the car uncomfortable on longer drives or over broken surfaces. Furthermore, softer front and rear anti-roll bars ensure the inside tyre remains in contact with the road under heavy cornering, enhancing traction and grip. These changes to the suspension enable ‘GT’ drivers to enjoy faster cornering speeds than they might in a number of more powerful front-wheel drive ‘hot hatches’.
In addition, the standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system has been carefully retuned to offer keener drivers more freedom to exploit the increased agility and enhance the yaw rate of the rear axle. Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system is also standard, as well as Torque Vectoring by Braking. This additional electronic driver support feature intelligently brakes the inside wheels to reduce understeer around corners – making the Ceed ‘GT’ more enjoyable and confidence-inspiring to drive on the type of winding lanes and mountain passes on which it has been developed.
Consistent stopping power is provided by larger brakes, with the standard Ceed’s 288mm ventilated front disc brakes replaced with 320mm discs. The brakes are also 3mm thicker, at 28mm, aiding kinetic heat absorption and braking performance with repeated use.
The model offers greater potential for comfortable motorway cruising than many other more extreme hot hatches. Kia’s engineers have been careful to retain much of the comfort and unwavering high-speed stability that characterises the standard Ceed and other Kia vehicles, such as the Stinger, when travelling at high speeds.
The Ceed ‘GT’ is fitted as standard with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, enabling higher cornering velocity and traction. The car features electric motor-driven power steering, offering incisive responses to steering inputs with a fast 12.7:1 ratio and requiring only 2.44 turns lock-to-lock – 17 per cent faster than the steering rack found in the original 2013 cee’d ‘GT’.
Powerful 1.6-litre T-GDi engine available with manual transmission
When the first cee’d ‘GT’ and pro_cee’d ‘GT’ were revealed in 2013, they were powered by a newly-developed 1.6-litre T-GDi (Turbocharged Gasoline Direct injection) engine. Downsized, turbocharged and quick to respond to driver inputs across the rev range, the new engine came to define the car’s effortless approach to power delivery in all conditions. The Kia Ceed ‘GT’ retains this approach, with a 1.6-litre T-GDi engine exclusively for the new ‘GT’ variant.
Producing 201bhp at a 6,000rpm peak, the 1.6-litre T-GDi engine continues to provide effortless acceleration and easily-accessible torque. The engine’s maximum torque of 265Nm is available across a wide 1,500-to-4,500rpm rev range. The result is an engine which delivers as much of its performance as possible across all driving conditions.
The Kia Ceed ‘GT’ is paired with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. With a top speed of 143mph, acceleration to 62mph is completed in just 7.2 seconds, while CO2 emissions of 155g/km (NEDC 2.0) result in a combined WLTP fuel economy figure of 38.2mpg.
Innovations to make life easier, more comfortable and safer
The Kia Ceed ‘GT’ provides owners and occupants with a wide range of technologies designed to make road travel as easy, comfortable and safe as possible.
The standard 8.0-inch ‘floating’ touchscreen satellite navigation system features Kia Connected Services powered by TomTom®. The system enables full smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay™ (for iPhone 5 and onwards) and Android Auto™ (for Android phones running 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher). Standard technologies include full Bluetooth® smartphone integration, automatic lights, keyless entry and heated front seats.
In addition to the car’s six standard airbags, advanced driver assistance technologies enhance occupant protection, using active safety systems to mitigate the risk of collisions. Standard safety technologies include High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Lane Keeping Assist with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist – City. Additional technologies include Smart Parking Assist and pedestrian recognition for the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system.
Every Ceed is equipped as standard with Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM). VSM ensures stability when braking and cornering by controlling the car’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) if it detects a loss of traction.
‘GT-Line’ boasts ‘GT’-derived design cues
The Ceed ‘GT-Line’ exterior introduces a range of distinct ‘GT’-inspired design features. These include a satin chrome and gloss black ‘tiger-nose’ grille surround, unique 17-inch or 18-inch ‘GT-Line’ alloy wheels, and newly designed front and rear bumpers which echo those of the Ceed and ProCeed ‘GT’. The fog lamp surround also incorporates horizontal metallic ‘blades’, similar to those found on the new ‘GT’ models and the Kia Stinger. The range of Kia Ceed ‘GT-Line’ models is available in a choice of 6 paint finishes.
Inside, Ceed ‘GT-Line’ models distinguish themselves with a series of changes designed to introduce a sportier ambience to the cabin. The grey roof lining of the Ceed is replaced with black cloth to cocoon occupants, and the door sills feature metallic scuff plates. ‘GT-Line’ models are fitted with a sporty D-shaped leather-trimmed steering wheel as standard, and – for models equipped with Kia’s dual-clutch auto transmission – drivers can change gear with metallic steering wheel paddles.
The Kia Ceed ‘GT-Line’ is fitted with new sports seats for front passengers, featuring larger side bolsters than those found in conventional Ceed models and are trimmed in black cloth and light grey synthetic leather, while ‘GT-Line S’ versions feature black leather and faux suede upholstery with grey stitching.
Choice of turbocharged engines with low emissions and instant response
‘GT-Line’ models are available with a choice of turbocharged engines from the conventional Ceed model range. These include Kia’s lightweight three-cylinder 118bhp 1.0-litre T-GDi engine, producing 118bhp and 172Nm of torque. The 1.4-litre ‘Kappa’ T-GDi is also available, with power and torque outputs of 138bhp and 242Nm, respectively. The Kia Ceed ‘GT-Line’ is also available with Kia’s all-new ‘Smartstream’ 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine with 134bhp. Every engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, while 1.4-litre T-GDi engines are available with Kia’s seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.
The Kia Ceed ‘GT-Line’ has been engineered exclusively for European roads, with European buyers in mind – offering an assured ride and engaging handling and a fully independent suspension system as standard, maximising agility and comfort. The ride has been developed on Europe’s wide variety of road surfaces, remaining comfortable while giving drivers the confidence of tighter body control under cornering and stability at higher speeds.
The Ceed ‘GT-Line’ equipped with the 118bhp 1.0-litre T-GDi engine manages to accelerate to 60mph in 10.7 seconds, before powering onto a top speed of 118mph. CO2 emissions of 125g/km (NEDC 2.0) equate to a combined (WLTP) fuel economy figure of 47.9mpg. With the 1.4-litre T-GDi powerplant under the bonnet and a six-speed manual gearbox, the Ceed ‘GT-Line’ can accelerate to 60mph in 8.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 130mph, with CO2 emissions of 132g/km (NEDC 2.0) and a combined (WLTP) fuel economy figure of 48.7mpg. Both the ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ are available with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that has a top speed of 127mph and an acceleration to 60mph figure of 8.9 seconds. The ‘GT-Line’ emits 127g/km CO2 (NEDC 2.0) and 45.6mpg on the combined (WLTP) economy cycle, while the ‘GT-Line S’ equipped with larger 18-inch alloy wheels has a CO2 figure of 129g/km (NEDC 2.0) and can achieve 43.5mpg (combined – WLTP). The 1.6-litre CRDi ‘Smartstream’ engine produces 134bhp, has a maximum speed of 124mph and can accelerate to 60mph in 9.8 seconds. It has the lowest CO2 emissions of all of the ‘GT-Line’ models at 107g/km (NEDC 2.0), with a combined (WLTP) fuel economy figure of 57.6mpg.
Market, warranty and after-care
In keeping with every Kia, the all-new Ceed ‘GT’ and ‘GT-Line’ comes with the company’s unique-in-the-UK seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty, subject to certain wear and tear conditions. The warranty is fully transferable should the car be sold before the time or mileage limits have been reached.
The Ceed ‘GT’ and ‘GT-Line’ is available with ‘Kia Care’ service plans, which have been developed to provide customers with a wide range of service plan options for any Kia model within the first seven years of the vehicle’s life – matching its industry-leading seven-year warranty.
The service plans include a comprehensive range of options including the original, traditional, first three and five services and those in between, but in addition a customer can now purchase services up to and including the seventh service which matches the full length of the warranty. The plans are available for all Kia owners and can be purchased at any point of ownership for cars up to five years old.
Model range –
‘GT-Line’ 1.0 T-GDi 118bhp 6-speed manual ISG – £21,535
‘GT-Line’ 1.4 T-GDi 138bhp 6-speed manual ISG – £22,335
‘GT-Line’ 1.4 T-GDi 138bhp 7-speed auto DCT ISG – £23,435
‘GT-Line’ 1.6 CRDi 134bhp 6-speed manual ISG – £23,185
‘GT-Line S’ 1.4 T-GDi 138bhp 7-speed auto DCT ISG – £27,185
‘GT’ 1.6 T-GDi 201bhp 6-speed manual ISG – £25,535