4Car and Carscoop are talking about the
FD, the Hyundai sibling to the Kia ED. Never heard of them? Apparently they are codenames for production versions of
the Kia c’eed concept (pictured) that premiered at the Geneva Auto show
a couple of months ago. The vehicles will share the same platform but will be marketed to entirely different groups in
Europe.
According to 4Car, the FD will replace the European Accent and Elantra. It will be powered by a
range of engines including a 1.4 liter petrol (gasoline) engine and a 2.0 liter diesel. The Kia was primarily designed
by a Korean team and redeveloped for the European market, but the Hyundai FD was created by Europeans at the
automaker’s Russelsheim, Germany facility.
The FD will possibly go on sale in 2007 as a 2008 model. Other
trims, from a coupe-cabriolet to compact MPVs and SUVs, will follow.
[Source: 4Car, Carscoop]