World premiere for all-new Kia ex_cee’d cabrio concept

Kia’s exciting all-new ex_cee’d cabrio concept car will make its world premiere at the 77th Salon de l’Automobiles in Geneva, Switzerland on 6 March.  The styling of the ex_cee’d cabrio is the work of new Kia Design Chief Peter Schreyer and gives a clear indication that Kia could produce a stunning looking cabrio under his guidance.

Based on the new three-door cee’d Sporty Hatch (scheduled for production in Slovakia from December), the ex_cee’d has the same wheelbase, but features several new exterior panels, while sharing the floor-pan and numerous unseen components with the three-door car, plus a powered folding fabric roof.

By adopting a fabric roof for the ex_cee’d, Kia deliberately goes its own retro-way rather than following the trend towards cabrios with folding metal roofs.  Peter Schreyer paid special at-tention to designing a classic cabrio with a traditional soft-top roof: “I’m convinced that the fabric roof will have a renaissance.  We’ve all lived with the romantic idea of open-air driving for a long time and for me, it is the fabric roof that is the quintessential element of a truly rewarding cabrio.”

With its slight wedge shape profile, muscular wings over 19-inch alloy wheels, and an aggressive nose with dynamic front styling, the ex_cee’d has instantly found a form that stands out from the cabrio crowd.  The cabrio concept is finished in ‘meringue white’ exterior paint with a ‘bitter chocolate’ fabric roof – colours that are echoed by the interior’s two-tone leather.

“With this new cabrio concept car, Kia has once again demonstrated that it is a young, style-conscious company that knows how to combine elegance with dynamics,” enthused Mr Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO Kia Motors.  “The Kia ex_cee’d is a fresh aesthetic high-point in our history, an encouraging sign of the growing

internationalisation of our brand and a step forward in the process of evolving into a European company with Korean roots.”

cee’d family marks historic turning point

The launch of the Kia cee’d family (five-door hatchback from December last year, five-door Sporty Wagon – from August 2007 and three-door Sporty Hatch – from December 2007) marks a major turning point in Kia’s history.  The bringing of this trio to the marketplace is the start of a new era.  They are the first-ever Kia cars designed and manufactured in Europe and will introduce a qualitative revolution for the brand. 

Endorsing the quality of this new model range, Kia is giving all cee'd vehicles a remarkable 7-Year / 150,000 kilometre warranty which is transferable to subsequent owners.

Geneva Show Press Conference

The Kia ex_cee’d cabrio concept, Kia cee’d Sporty Wagon and Kia Rio Hybrid sedan will be unveiled on Stand 5231, Hall 5, during the Kia Motors press conference at 14.00 hrs on 6 March.

SOURCE: Kia. Please mention www.allcarindex.com if you use this text.