Kia have just launched their first turbo charged petrol engine car in the UK. And it is a pocket rocket.
With the awkward model name of ‘pro_cee’d GT’ (yes, that is an underscore and an apostrophe in the same dubious model name) it is poised to compete with cars like the Ford Fiesta ST and the Golf GTI, but at a lower price point. This sporty motor is available brand new for just £20,000 … and you will have £5 change to buy your fluffy dice. So what do you get for that…? Well, quite a lot actually, leaving the engine aside for one moment you get a car that is specified to justify its ‘GT’ badge. That is to say, standard kit includes; leather and suede Recaro seats for both driver and passenger, leather stitched steering wheel emblazoned with the evocative GT moniker, LED daytime running lamps, 18″ alloys and oversized red brake calipers. In short, it looks the part, but how does it go? Read on..
Kia have created a turbo charged version of their gamma engine. With a modest 1600cc capacity it manages to deliver an astonishing 201bhp. And that is not a wimpy bhp figure… 80% of maximum torque is delivered at just 1500rpm and it can pump out a max 265nm of torque. The result is a feeling of both immediacy and flexibility with impressive in-gear acceleration for safe overtaking manoeuvres.
If you want the numbers, the 0-60 sprint is achieved in 7.4s and the top speed is 143 mph. This from a car with emissions as low as you could expect for a fast hatch (CO2 Emissions 171 g/km).
Topping off the proposal is Kia’s famed 7 year warranty, perhaps the best things do come in small packages.
