Today in London, Kia released photos of the new European-market family car that the company will debut later this year at the Paris auto show. Known only by the code name "ED," the five-door will do battle with C-segmant stalwarts like the Ford Focus, Renault Megane and Opel Astra.
"ED" stands for European design, and the car will be produced at Kia's Zilina, Slovakia plant. Underhood, "ED" will be available with three different gasoline engines and one diesel. A station wagon and 3-door variant are also in the cards. If you're outside Europe and want one, you're going to be disappointed. "ED" is a Europe-only effort.
Kia will keep the name under wraps until the car gets it's formal introduction in Paris this September. Whatever it's called, it looks like a nice little car. Too bad it's not in the company's North American plans.
(Additional info, photo after the jump)
[Source: Kia]
Press Release:
KIA REVEALS ALL-NEW CHALLENGER TO C-SEGMENT LEADERS
Kia Motors Corporation issued the first official photographs of its all-new family car – code named 'ED' – at the British International Motor Show in London today. Created especially for European consumers, the new model will be Kia's strongest-ever contender for C-segment honours when it goes on sale across Europe in December 2006 – a genuine challenger to the established class leaders.
The 4.2-metre long ED 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. From launch, a range of four engines will be available, including 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0-litre CVVT gasoline engines and an all-new 1.6-litre VGT diesel engine.
"Our new C-segment model is code named 'ED' because it is a European Design created with European consumers in mind," explains Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. "Our ED production model's styling highlights that this car is a truly European design, tailored precisely to the C-Segment which is uniquely important in Europe. ED is truly a car designed in Europe, manufactured in Europe, to be marketed exclusively in Europe, to fulfil 100% of European customers' needs."
With its 'tough not rough' appearance, combining strongly solid forms with sensitively flowing lines, jewel-like detailing and a broad stance, ED points towards the future elements of Kia's evolving design language – like the cee'd concept car shown by Kia at the Geneva Show earlier this year and at the British Show today.
Kia's latest C-segment model, the ED will be produced at Kia's first-ever European manufacturing facility at Zilina in Slovakia. It will be marketed exclusively in Europe and the five-door launch models will be joined by a range of station wagons and sporty three-door hatchback models from September and December 2007, respectively.
The all-new Kia five-door family hatchback will make its world premiere at the Mondial de L'Automobile in Paris, France, on 28 September 2006, when its name will be revealed.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
GDUB @ Jul 18th 2006 2:03PM
I am Glad i dont have "ED". Its good to know the Europeans have "ED".
b @ Jul 18th 2006 2:06PM
maybe this should be pfizer's nascar entry
Hung2 @ Jul 18th 2006 2:07PM
The "Altimate Murano"!!
little blue pill @ Jul 18th 2006 2:08PM
It's a good thing they don't bring it over here. Over here, people know 'ED' as Erectile Dysfunction. It would be tough to sell a car named after that.
SherbornSean @ Jul 18th 2006 2:11PM
Surprised they don't call it the Kia3.
dave @ Jul 18th 2006 2:16PM
Can the Korean's actually produce something that isn't instantly recognizable from some other car's design?
Oh sorry...I forgot they were just a photocopy design shop.
Eric Elinow @ Jul 18th 2006 2:30PM
There already is a European Designed C-Segment car made in Korea sold globally, produced by the #2 manufacturer in Korea. GMDAT.
It's called the Chevrolet Lacetti, but also sold as the Daewoo Lacetti, Chevrolet Optra, Suzuki Reno, Buick Excelle HSV, Holden Viva.
And much agreed with respondant #3 (Hung2).. It DOES look like a baby Nissan Murano.
Bill @ Jul 18th 2006 2:38PM
Wow. A couple years ago I owned a Mazda Protege5. Around that time Kia came out with the Spectra5, which blantently ripped off the P5.
Now this? From the side, this cars resemblence to a Mazda3 is unmistakable. Yes, a Kia3, or a Rio3 perhaps.
Are you sure they aren't using Mazda bodypanels?
Dr. Woo @ Jul 18th 2006 2:46PM
"Surprised they don't call it the Kia3."
Ding ding ding!
Alex Nunez @ Jul 18th 2006 2:49PM
I'm so used to people "borrowing" design elements form others that I didn't even notice the Altima/Murano styling when I wrote this.
Let me throw in a little Subaru for ya: the grille.
All that said, I think it's still a pretty nice little hatchback. Derivative is fine with me if it's done ok. And keep in mind this is for Europe, where Altima doesn't exist.
So they won't notice THAT part of the design.
Sid @ Jul 18th 2006 3:00PM
I always wondered what the Mazda3 would look like from a Korean car-maker.
tio @ Jul 18th 2006 3:08PM
I like it.
John @ Jul 18th 2006 3:22PM
Yes, it may be a bit derivative, but overall this is a mature design (i.e., well-developed, clean, and honest with good shelf-life, and no gimmicks).
Yes, it evokes the Mazda3 in general packaging, the character line and shoulder running the length of the car, and the upturned rear quarter window. And, yes the front grille and lights look a bit like a Nissan. You might even see a bit of GM's Sequel concept car in the front visage, http://www.gm.com/company/gm_exp_live/events/naias_2005/html/cc01_images.html).
But, these are all good elements that are brought together in a harmonious, attractive way. I wish Hyundai would bring it to these shores.
Homer @ Jul 18th 2006 3:29PM
I think this car looks so good. I´m from Europe and here are cars very expensive. For example, Hyundai Santa Fe costs over 35000 bucks, horrible. And Kia brings small price, so many european carmakers must decrease price. And It´s good.
lavardera @ Jul 18th 2006 3:35PM
Perhaps its because it looks so much like the Mazda3 that I like it better than the US maket Spectra5, which is Kia's Mazda3 wannabe over here:
http://www.kia.com/spectra5/
It just does not have the big wheels and aggressive look of the mazda though - still looks like a wagon.
But I have to wonder if Mazda wasn't looking at the BMW 1series when they made the 3 - who was first?
http://www.bmw.co.uk/images/bmwuk/mid/prices/1_KO_sport_front.jpg
Jay @ Jul 18th 2006 3:54PM
Other than the design of the side glass, I see no Mazda3 in this whatsoever.
To answer the question about why the Korean cars instantly look like other cars....yeah, many of them do lift styling cues from other cars, but unlike any other country that makes cars, when a new Korean car bows, the first thoughts that go through everyone's minds is, "What car did they rip off?" So people immediately go to task trying to find out which car they lifted styling from, never minding that Japanese cars, American cars, and European cars all lift styling ideas from each other too. But somehow, it's okay when they do it but not when Hyundai or Kia does it.
MikeInNC @ Jul 18th 2006 4:08PM
I don't look to see who ripped off who. It was just completely obvious to me. The first thing I saw when the link opened was a Mazda3 (the profile, the shoulderline...etc) and the front grille from the Subaru. I don't have a beef with Korean (or any other) automakers at all. It was just so "in your face" I think most people couldn't avoid it.
It's not a bad looking car though. Just pretty similar to the Mazda.
G. Snyder @ Jul 18th 2006 4:12PM
you all are boring. I am so tired of the "this car looks like that one" routine. If you try hard enough, you can find similarities between any two cars. I guess it is something 'clever' for people to do, though, that have nothing important to say.
Dan @ Jul 18th 2006 4:41PM
This car's style is derivative (Mazda 3, Murano) but it looks pretty decent to me. It's especially true when you compare it with the ugly POS called Amanti :-)
servo @ Jul 18th 2006 5:52PM
Looks better than a Mazda 3.