Kia Proceed Concept revealed, extended hot hatch styling presents a new body type for Kia, low, lean and lithe – concept characterized by its rakish roofline, muscular proportions and compact footprint, Unique ‘Luminline’ exterior design feature – an illuminated outline of its glasshouse, hints at the design of the next-generation Cee’d
Kia Motors has revealed new images of the Proceed Concept. Designed at Kia’s European design center in Frankfurt, the Proceed Concept indicates what the next-generation Cee’d look like. The concept presents a new body type for Kia. The extended hot hatch styling retains the athleticism of the current pro_cee’d model while combining its striking visual presence with a dash of real-world versatility. Reworked and reimagined for a new generation of drivers, it puts forward a bold vision for a potential member of the next-generation cee’d family.
Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer Europe for Kia Motors, commented: “With many European drivers now seeking performance alternatives to the three-door hot hatch, we began thinking about a different halo model for the Cee’d family. The Proceed Concept represents a bold new vision of how the vibrant soul of the pro_cee’d be reincarnated and revitalized for a new generation of performance-oriented drivers.”
Low, lean and lithe, the Proceed Concept’s rakish roofline, muscular proportions and compact footprint hint at its outright agility. The silhouette of the car is complemented by a series of distinctive design cues. A dynamic window frame follows the roofline to the rear tailgate, while the striking ‘Sharkblade’ in the bodywork, complete with GT logo, reinforces its lack of B-pillars. Lateral strakes exaggerate the Proceed Concept’s slim waistline and lend an air of muscularity to the rear of the car. It runs on six-spoke aluminum alloy wheels, 20 inches in diameter.
Where daytime running lights have become a key element in a car’s identity, the Proceed Concept uses light in other ways. The concept features a ‘Luminline’ – an illuminated outline of the car’s glasshouse that greets drivers as they approach the car. This serves as a powerful nocturnal visual identifier for the Proceed Concept, highlighting its fastback shape. The concept’s dramatic roofline flows into a tailgate characterized by its stacked air vents, and the rippled surface of a rear light strip inspired by molten ferromagnetic metal.
Its stance and proportions may be new, but the Proceed Concept features many of Kia’s now familiar design motifs. The iconic ‘tiger-nose’ grille, the sculpted ‘island’ bonnet inspired by the Stinger, the castellated windscreen, the full-length roof glazing, and Kia’s inimitable mix of curvaceous sheet metal and taut creases. Each element singles out the Proceed Concept as a truly modern Kia. The concept is finished in bespoke ‘Lava Red’ paintwork. This has been created by combining multiple hand-applied layers of black, chrome-effect silver, and red-tinted lacquer for a glossy, lustrous paint finish.