October 4th, 2006 -- Created especially for European consumers, the eagerly awaited all-new Kia cee'd model made its world premiere at the Mondial de L'Automobile.This new C-segment model marks a major turning point in Kia's history.  It is the first-ever Kia designed and manufactured in Europe, and will introduce a qualitative revolution for the brand. The highest standards of engineering and European-style aesthetics have been applied to every aspect of its exterior, interior, fixtures and fittings.

Unquestionably, the Kia cee'd will be the brand's strongest-ever contender for C-segment when it goes on sale across Europe in December 2006. 

"They have created a truly competitive vehicle that is stylish and practical. I am sure that the new Kia cee'd will have great appeal to people all across Europe, while demonstrating our brand's Power to Surprise," commented Jung-Moon Park, Senior Executive Vice President - Kia Motors Corporation. 

Kia has not only invested the talent and funding to create an all-new factory in Slovakia and produce an all-new model, but it is also offering consumers an unprecedented level of choice.

Maximum customer choice is one of the core themes behind the introduction of cee'd five-door, which will be available in 20 versions, three trim/equipment levels, four interior concepts, five interior centre-stack styles, seven different trim fabrics and 12 exterior colours , so Kia customers will be able to tailor the new model to their personal tastes. 

The 4.2-metre long cee'd has an unusually long wheelbase (2,650 mm) and will offer class-leading interior space, plus highly competitive levels of equipment and state-of-the-art active and passive safety.  The range of five engines will include 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0-litre CVVT engines. 

Kia also revealed the second model in the cee'd family, the cee'd 'sporty wagon' that will go on sale next September,  The 4,470 mm long, 1,490 mm high, sporty wagon is the second model in the new Kia cee'd family of cars.

A first in the C-segment, it features a tailgate shaped like an inverted 'L' with its hinges set back over the load area so the tailgate rises almost vertically, giving enhanced access to the large-capacity cargo area that has additional storage below the floor.

Kia also briefed about its third model in the cee'd line-up, the all-new Kia cee'd 'sporty hatch'. The resulting concept car, called the pro_cee'd actually looks very similar to the 'sporty hatch' model and highlights this new three-door model's dynamic, muscular and masculine nature.

-Ends-

Kia Motors Corporation (www.kiamotors.com or www.kia.com) -- one of the fastest growing automakers in the world -- was founded in 1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to become one of the world's premier automotive brands. Kia's 14 manufacturing and assembly operations in 9 countries produce more than 1.3 million vehicles a year that are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 160 countries. Kia today has over 32,500 employees and annual revenues of almost $16 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and an official worldwide sponsor of the Davis Cup. From 2007 to 2014, Kia will be an official automotive partner of FIFA -- the governing body of the FIFA World Cup. Kia Motors Corporation's brand slogan -- "The Power to Surprise" -- represents the company's global commitment to surpassing customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

© Press Release 2006