Kia SPORTSPACE, Picanto 2015 and cee'd GT Line at the Geneva Motor Show 2015

The Korean brand faces this edition of the Geneva Motor Show with several kinds of novelties: a prototype, an update, an expanded range for one model and new engine and gearbox debuts. Although it is the one still furthest from dealerships, the first one manages to capture all the attention of those walking past the Kia space at the show.

A few weeks ago the manufacturer surprised us by unveiling its SPORTSPACE prototype, a real statement of intent about what its design studio can achieve in Frankfurt with the European market in mind. Best of all, it has been built as an estate, a body style that Kia has not tackled in the D-segment since the Clarus.

The SPORTSPACE measures 4.85 metres long, 1.87 metres wide and 1.42 metres high, dimensions that match those of other rivals in its category, such as the new Mazda6 Wagon, which is also on display in Geneva. Among its most striking features are door handles that emerge as you approach with your hand, and a rear diffuser made of carbon fibre, a material also present in certain cabin trims.

Inside there is room for four adults and, according to Kia, the interior has been designed to offer a high degree of roominess and comfort to reduce fatigue on long journeys. It features a large panoramic sunroof to boost brightness, very refined leather upholstery and a configurable digital instrument cluster that the driver can adjust to their liking.

It runs on the same hybrid powertrain as the Optima T-Hybrid, which we saw at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, made up of a 1.7-litre CRDi diesel engine supported by an electric compressor that kicks in when the turbocharger does not generate enough boost pressure.

The second novelty is the 2015 Picanto range, announced a few days before the prototype. The Korean city car receives only minimal touch-ups to the bumpers, grille and wheel designs, along with a new sporty styling pack.

Its interior features new decorative combinations, metal trim for the air vents and an audio system of higher quality. Its optional equipment is completed by a new multimedia and navigation system with a seven-inch screen, a cruise control and speed limiter, and brake discs of larger diameter (252 mm).

Kia kills three birds with one stone with the new GT Line trim for the cee’d family. It is a formula the public already knows: giving more affordable versions the imposing, distinctive look of the more powerful models.

In this case, the GT Line carries the exterior and interior styling of the cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT over to those body variants and, additionally, to the cee’d Sportswagon estate. As we noted above, Kia has used this novelty to unveil a new engine and gearbox in world premiere.

The powertrain is the new T-GDI with one litre of displacement and three cylinders. It produces 120 CV and 172 Nm of peak torque, is turbocharged, and benefits from cooling systems, high-pressure direct injection and an integrated exhaust manifold that help reduce harmful emissions. It can only be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox.

To order the cee’d GT Line with the new DCT gearbox with dual-clutch and seven speeds, you must choose the revised CRDi 1.6-litre diesel engine. Kia has increased its power from 128 to 133 CV and its torque from 265 to 285 Nm. Both the 1.0 T-GDI and the DCT transmission will soon be integrated into the offer of more models.

Photos | Equipo Highmotor and Kia