22-07-2006
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 (Tuesday). Created especially for European consumers, the new model will be Kia’s strongest-ever contender for C-segment honors when it goes on sale across Europe in December 2006 -- a genuine challenger to the established class leaders.
The 4.2-meter 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-liter CVVT gasoline engines and a 1.6-liter VGT diesel engine.
“Our new C-segment model is code named ‘ED’ because it is a European design created with European consumers in mind,” explained 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 to the C-Segment which is uniquely important in Europe), a car designed in Europe, made in Europe, to fulfill 100% of European customer 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 Kia’s cee’d concept car shown at Geneva 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.
Text and photos courtesy of Kia Motors America
