Kia Cerato 2012 News

Kia is looking to get back into the hot hatch business after pulling the unloved Proceed GT out of the local market last year.

Kia has introduced a new five-door hatch version of its impressive Cerato small car, joining the existing sedan bodystyle four months after its local arrival.The third-generation Cerato hatch replaces the TD generation hatch that has continued to be available alongside the new YD Cerato sedan, and matches the sedan on pricing and most specifications.Australia is the first market outside Korea to receive the new hatch, and Kia expects the new hatch to make up 70 per cent of Cerato sales. The existing Cerato offerings rank 12th in the highly competitive sub-$40,000 small car segment for sales year to date (until July 31), with 3382 sales, trailing the segment-leading Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 by over 20,000 units over the same period.The wheelbase of the new Cerato hatch matches the sedan’s 50mm longer 2700mm measurement, improving rear seat legroom by a similar margin. Overall length is 210mm less than the sedan due to a shorter rear overhang, which also sees seats-up cargo capacity drop by 97 litres to 385L (VDA), but all models are fitted with a full-size spare wheel.Like the sedan, the new Kia Cerato hatch is available in S, Si, and SLi grades, and kicks off at $19,990 for the S, moving up to $23,990 for the Si, and topping off with the $27,990 SLi.The S comes equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, flex-steer adjustable power steering, front and rear parking sensors, six-speaker audio with Bluetooth audio and telephone. The Si adds a premium steering wheel and gearknob, 4.3 inch colour multimedia touchscreen with reversing camera, extra chrome exterior detailing, auto headlamps, folding door mirrors with puddle lamps, proximity keys, and 16 inch alloy wheels.The top-spec SLi gains leather trim with front seat heaters and power memory driver’s seat adjustment, dual-zone climate control, power sunroof, HID headlamps, LED daytime running lamps and taillamps, auto-dimming rear view mirror, chilled glovebox, and 17 inch alloy wheels.Satellite navigation is only available as a $1000 option on the top-spec SLi models, which also results in the multimedia screen growing to seven inches. The hatch also matches the sedan’s engine lineup, with the S equipped with a 110kW/178Nm 1.8 litre petrol four, and the Si and SLi grades moving up to a 129kW/209Nm 2.0 litre direct injected petrol four.A six-speed manual is standard on all Cerato hatch models, with a six-speed auto available for a further $2000. The Cerato hatch’s combined fuel consumption figures are equal with the sedan, despite weighing 20kg more, which means 6.6l/100km (manual) and 7.1l/100km (auto) for the 1.8 litre S, and 7.4l/100km for the 2.0 Si and SLi variants with either transmission.Like the sedan, the Cerato hatch has achieved a five star ANCAP safety rating, with six-airbags, stability and traction control, and hill-start assist. The Cerato hatch comes with Kia’s five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, capped price servicing plan for the first five services, and one year roadside assistance.  The entry S grade (manual) is being offered with $19,990 driveaway pricing from launch, matching the current offer on the sedan S. However, Kia would not confirm the duration of this offer. 

Style is the new weapon in Kia's war to win back buyers from an avalanche of fresh small-car rivals. It starts with the Cerato hatch, a heavily rejigged small car with more performance options that arrives here mid-year with the aim of clawing back some average sales results. The neat Cerato sedan and hatch currently on the market have been no match for heavy hitters Corolla and Mazda3, let alone its sister Hyundai i30. Even the more expensive Subaru Impreza outsells Cerato. This time Kia reckons it's got it right. The Cerato, shown this week at the biggest US motor show in Chicago, arrives in Australia as a hatchback in July that follows the April launch of the sedan equivalent. It sits on a 50mm longer wheelbase and is lower and wider than the current hatch. Boot space is up to 422 litres, bigger than the i30 (378), Golf (350), Corolla (280) and Mazda3 (340) but less than Holden Cruze's 445 litres. Looking more like a mini-Optima at the front - indeed the Cerato sedan is almost a shrunken copy of Kia's biggest Australian-sold sedan - the hatch repeats the crisp styling and signature lines of the company's chief designer Peter Schreyer. It has all the performance looks to justify Kia's 150kW/264Nm 1.6-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine - only 5kW/16Nm off the bigger 2-litre engine of the Golf GTI - but we won't get it. Kia Australia has knocked back this sparkling engine in favour of retaining the current model's 103kW 1.8-litre multi-point injection engine and a perkier 129kW 2-litre direct-injection petrol four. This upgrades the current 2-litre engine's 115kW/194Nm output. The turbo-petrol engine - the same as fitted to the Hyundai Veloster Turbo - is hoped to be used here late this year as Kia Australia plans to import the Europe-sourced Procee'd GT hatch. Annoyingly, the US market has nabbed the turbo-petrol for the Cerato five-door hatch and displayed it at the Chicago motor show this week. VALUE Kia Australia is not talking money. But it's fair to say it will start around the same level - say, $19,990 - because that's where its rivals such as Corolla and Pulsar are starting. At that money, dependent on equipment levels for which Kia are renowned, it'll be a strong buy. The 2-litre engine is also bigger than the others so there's appeal from a performance base. The elephant in the room is the excellent i30 from parent company Hyundai that shares the Cerato's platform. But there's Kia's industry crunching five-year warranty and capped-price service program with roadside assistance. Strong arguments. But we have to see the car in Australia and with its sticker price to make the final call. DESIGN In the flesh it's crisp and distinctive. It's a pleasing car to look at and that'll appeal to buyers who appreciate a head turn. But it's not outrageous and not dated in its lines, so it should age well and that'll hold value. The cabin is pretty and appears workable. The car will keep its three model line-up of S, Si and SLi. Again, the proof is in what it looks like when it lands here. TECHNOLOGY The 2-litre engine's direct injection improves performance and lowers fuel consumption. Kia gets unique suspension tuning for Australia - incidentally, Hyundai do likewise but by a different mob - so the Cerato hatch should hang on through the bends. The rear suspension is by torsion beam and though not as sophisticated as the multi-link set up of Holden and Opel, is economical and allows for a bigger boot area. SAFETY No news but it's expected to be a five-star car with six airbags. It's the standard safety gear that gets fitted to the Australian cars which is unknown. A rear camera should be the minimum with lane-change monitor and even low-speed auto braking being desirable. In this sector though, it's all about price. VERDICT A very appealing package that offers good space in a relatively small car. Nice to see some power upgrades in the 2-litre which should make it a fun drive. The car isn't on the road - or even a carpark - yet. Kia Cerato hatch Price: est from $19,990 Warranty: 5 years/unlimited km, roadside assist Resale: 53% Service Interval: 12mths/15,000km, capped price Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, ESC, EBD, TC Crash rating: 5-star Engine: 1.8 and 2-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 103kW and 129kW Transmission: 6 spd manual or auto; front drive Thirst: est. 7.3L/100km; 192g/km CO2 Dimensions: 4.3m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.5m (H) Weight: 1385kg Spare: Full size RIVALS Toyota Corolla Price: from $19,990 Engine: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 103kW/173Nm Transmission: CVT; front drive Thirst: 6.6L/100km; CO2 152g/km  Toyota Corolla - see other Corolla verdicts Mazda 3 Price: from $20,330 Engine: 2-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 108kW/182Nm Transmission: 5-spd auto; front drive Thirst: 8.2L/100km; CO2 216g/km  Mazda 3 - see other Mazda 3 verdicts Holden Cruze Price: from $21,490 Engine: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 104kW/176Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto; front drive Thirst: 7.5L/100km; CO2 179g/km Holden Cruze - see other Cruze verdicts  

But that won't happen until at least next year as Kia rolls out its new Cerato hatch and sedan and, finally, the two-door Koup. "We're pushing hard for a turbo car but we have to be patient," Kia Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth says. The next model Koup is expected to get a direct petrol-injected 1.6-litre engine with a turbocharger. Kia's global powertrain engineer, Joachim Hahn, indicated at this year's Geneva motor show in March that the first turbo would be in a C-Class car - which is the Cerato - and that it would be announced within 12 months. "We already make a turbocharged direct-injection engine - the TGDI - and we will bring out a Kia within the next 12 months which is a European GDI turbocharged engine," Hahn says. Kia - an associate company of Hyundai - makes a turbocharged version of  the Optima for the US market and a C'eed turbo for Europe. The US also gets a turbo-petrol Sportage. The 150kW/264Nm 1.6-litre turbo-GDI engine - which features a twin-scroll turbocharger - is also in the Hyundai Veloster Turbo which is due for Australian launch in December. Hyundai claims its Veloster Turbo is able to deliver 8.7 L/100km city and 6.2 L/100km highway for manual transmission models. It is also available with a six-speed torque-converter automatic.  

While the company has launched the Sportage with a locally-tuned suspension and played with a Koup to make it handle, the Korean brand has critical vehicles coming.  Kia Australia national marketing manager Steve Watt says the next-generation Rio - due in the latter half of next year - is a critical car for the brand."I've seen the clay of Rio, it's a game-changer, the packaging is more for a small family because it is so clever, that's second half of 2011," he says.  The line-up is far from set, but Watt says the range will need to retain the brand's sharp-pricing as well as cover a broader range of body options."We're known for sharp prices - entry level we need a presence, hopefully we'll have access to different body shapes, sedan and wagon and hopefully a three-door but that's not confirmed, the greater coverage we have the better we'll do," he says.  The company will add the Cerato five-door to its line-up following a Sydney motor show debut in October.The medium sedan - still known as TF for now  but likely to use the Optima nameplate - will be unveiled at the Australian Open in Melbourne early next year, with even more suspension and steering work done by the Australian tuning team than the Sportage."The TF we have started chassis dynamics testing on that car, that determines when it goes on sale - when the work is finished.  It costs the same to put a poor as a good suspension system in the car, the trick is to get a good suspension." he says.Watt says the brand is still considering tactics like a seven-year warranty and says it has to expand its catchment of customers and agrees that the company's line-up need to be seen as "more than A to B" transport."A to B suggests being disconnected with the car, our designs now are for more engaging, you notice the car now - my view is the drive needs to match the style of the car.  We need to talk to a new market, we need to talk to people who wouldn't have considered us before," he says.

A five-door hatch has just debuted at the New York Motor Show and arrives in local showrooms in October.  It is expected to share the same engines and specifications as the sedan. Lower and firmly set on its haunches, the five-door has all the design attributes of the sedan, from the new front grille, pronounced wedge shoulder line to the alloy wheels and lower bumper design. Inside the car shares the same dashboard, but adds paddle shifters, push-button start and a navigation system. Depending on country, the five-door is available with three petrol engines, a 1.6-litre, 2.0-litre or 2.4-litre and a new six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Australian cars are expected to continue with the 2.0-litre four.  Kia Motors Australia will confirm pricing and local specifications closer to the launch. Although the Rio remains the South Korean’s strongest seller locally, adding a hatch to the Cerato lineup is expected to drive more sales in the competitive small car segment, which is dominated by hatches. Kia Motors Australia CEO MK Kim has confirmed he Cerato 5-door hatch will go on sale in Australia during the fourth quarter of 2010. "It will complete the Cerato range by joining the 4-door sedan and 2-door Koup," Kim says. "It will introduce key mechanical, feature and cosmetic changes to the Cerato range and join the Kia Soul in the important Small Hatch segment which so far this year has accounted for 51 per cent of total small vehicle sales."

Headlining Kia’s stand is a preview of the new and stylish Cerato sedan, due for release to the Australian market in early 2009. It will be the first Kia to feature the 'new face of Kia' design from the pen of Kia's global chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, who joined the company in 2006 from the Volkswagen Group. Schreyer's corporate H-grille echoes his car design philosophy. According to Schreyer, design is the number one purchase influence but it is essential that new designs match both the Kia brand value and the vision of the Kia brand. In striking electric blue at the show, straight lines are feature on the profile, following the base of the side glass from the A-pillar to the boot, while the headlights are integrated into the grille; blistered guards visually lower the car. The new model will bridge the gap between small and medium cars with space, performance, features and value. Longer and wider than the current Cerato sedan, the new model is actually roomier than the first generation Toyota Camry. New Cerato will feature a new, efficient 2.0-litre engine with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) for class-leading power and torque, delivering the pulling power and responsiveness of a 2.2-litre engine without the fuel consumption of a bigger engine. Kia is also involved in other initiatives, including sponsorship of the Australian Open tennis and a Kia Young Drivers program. Kia is also involved with a new 14 part TV series on Channel 10 called ‘Pat Callinan’s 4x4 Adventures’, where Pat spent three months driving a Kia Sorento CRDi around Australia.