Frankfurt, 25 November 2020 – Kia Motors has today revealed a new line-up of gasoline and gasoline mild-hybrid powertrains for its best-selling Kia Ceed model family. With four body types and a broader range of powertrains than ever, the Ceed line-up now offers more choice to buyers than any other compact family car.
Kia’s all-new ‘Smartstream’ 1.5-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine is engineered to boost power and performance, while simultaneously lowering emissions. The new engine is available in all four Ceed variants as a conventional gasoline engine, or as a new ‘EcoDynamics+’ gasoline mild-hybrid option – including on GT-Line models. It replaces the existing 1.4-litre T-GDi engine previously offered across the line-up. The revised powertrain line-up also includes a new 1.0-litre T-GDi EcoDynamics+ mild-hybrid option for the Ceed and Ceed Sportswagon.
Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Europe, comments: “These new powertrains underpin Kia’s hybridisation and emissions reduction strategy in Europe, and contribute even further to our growing sales of electrified powertrains. The new 1.5-litre engine is something we are particularly pleased to introduce, offering advanced technologies that boost power and performance, while also reducing emissions.
“It’s important that drivers can get excited about what electrification means for their driving experience and running costs,” adds Herrera. “The Ceed family’s efficient new gasoline powertrain line-up achieves this with lower emissions and improved on-road performance, and available to drivers at a reasonable price.”
The Ceed model family comprises the Ceed hatchback, Ceed Sportswagon, ProCeed shooting brake and XCeed urban crossover. Manufactured at Kia’s European production facility in Žilina, Slovakia, the Ceed family is the brand’s best-selling model range in Europe. The Žilina facility is also home to production of the new 1.5-litre T-GDi engine, following a recent €70 million investment in enhancing the production line.
Smartstream 1.5-litre T-GDi: improved power, performance and efficiency
The new 1.5-litre T-GDi engine is available across the four-strong Ceed model family, paired with either a six-speed manual transmission (6MT) or seven-speed double-clutch transmission (7DCT). Producing up to 160 ps at 5,500 rpm, the new 1.5-litre T-GDi engine is 14 percent more powerful than Kia’s outgoing 1.4-litre T-GDi engine (140 ps). Peak torque output is also 4.5 percent higher (253 Nm between 1,500-3,500 rpm).
Furthermore, the new engine features Kia’s latest Smartstream powertrain innovations, reducing emissions and aiding on-road performance. These innovations include the brand’s Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology. This alters the valve timing of the engine to improve performance while reducing emissions. A new low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system (LP-EGR) is also active at lower engine speeds, further improving fuel efficiency and emissions; gasoline particulate filters (GPF) reduce the engine’s particulate emissions.
Equipped with the new 1.5-litre T-GDi engine, the Kia Ceed hatchback is able to accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in 8.4 seconds (manual transmission) or 8.6 seconds (with 7DCT). For the Kia Ceed Sportswagon and ProCeed, the 0-to-100 km/h sprint now takes 8.6 seconds (with 6MT) or 8.8 seconds (7DCT). However, CO2 emissions for all three variants now start from as low as 125 g/km (WLTP combined cycle, 6MT) – representing a 6.7 percent reduction compared to the outgoing 1.4-litre engine.
Kia XCeed models equipped with the new engine can now accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in 9.0 and 9.2 seconds (6MT and 7DCT, respectively). Emissions start from 136 g/km, a reduction of 6.2 percent compared to the previous 1.4-litre T-GDi model (145 g/km).
New 1.5-litre EcoDynamics+ gasoline mild-hybrid powertrain
The 1.5-litre T-GDi engine is also designed to integrate with Kia’s EcoDynamics+ mild-hybrid system. This powertrain delivers the same performance as non-mild-hybrid variants, while further reducing emissions and running costs.
The EcoDynamics+ mild-hybrid system delivers greater efficiency from internal combustion engines, seamlessly deploying and recuperating electric power. It supplements the engine’s torque output with power from a compact 48-volt lithium-ion polymer battery, and extends engine ‘off time’ with a new mild-hybrid starter-generator (MHSG). The MHSG is connected by belt to the engine’s crankshaft, and switches silently between ‘motor’ and ‘generator’ modes. In ‘motor’ mode, under acceleration, the MHSG provides electric power assistance to reduce engine load and emissions. As the car decelerates, the MHSG has the ability under certain conditions to switch to ‘generator’ mode, recuperating energy from the crankshaft to recharge the battery.
The new 1.5-litre EcoDynamics+ powertrain is available on all four models with a 7DCT.
Ceed, Ceed Sportswagon and ProCeed models fitted with the 1.5-litre EcoDynamics+ system and 7DCT see CO2 emissions fall as low as 126 g/km (WLTP, combined cycle). This represents a reduction of 8 percent compared to emissions from the previous 1.4-litre T-GDi engine with the same transmission.
XCeed EcoDynamics+ models with the 7DCT now boast CO2 emissions as low as 135 g/km (6.9 percent lower than previous 1.4-litre T-GDi XCeed models, rated at 145 g/km).
The new mild-hybrid powertrain is also available exclusively in the XCeed with Kia’s new six-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT), with emissions rated from 134 g/km (WLTP, combined cycle). Kia’s iMT is a ‘clutch-by-wire’ system, lowering CO2 emissions while retaining the driver engagement of a conventional manual. Instead of a mechanical linkage, the iMT’s clutch is controlled purely electronically. It works with the MHSG to improve efficiency, switching the engine off earlier when coasting to a halt. In ‘Eco’ mode, it also enables brief periods of engine-off highway ‘sailing’ at speeds of up to 125 km/h, quietly reactivating when the driver pushes the accelerator, brake or clutch pedal.
New 1.0-litre T-GDi EcoDynamics+ powertrain for Ceed and Ceed Sportswagon
An additional gasoline mild-hybrid powertrain is also introduced for the first time in the Ceed line-up – an EcoDynamics+ system paired with Kia’s popular Smartstream 1.0-litre T-GDi engine.
Producing 120 ps, this new powertrain is offered to Ceed hatchback and Ceed Sportswagon buyers. This also represents the first time this engine has been paired with the seven-speed DCT, resulting in CO2 emissions from just 123 g/km for both models (WLTP, combined cycle). The Ceed 1.0-litre EcoDynamics+ will accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in 11.2 seconds; the Ceed Sportswagon, in 11.3 seconds.
Gasoline, diesel, mild-hybrid, GT: a broader powertrain line-up
The new 1.5-litre and EcoDynamics+ systems form part of a broader powertrain range available across the Ceed line-up. With four different body styles, and a choice of gasoline, diesel, and electrified mild-hybrid powertrains, the Ceed family offers the widest choice in the compact family car segment.
In addition to the new powertrains, the Ceed continues to be offered with a range of other powertrain options. Depending on market, the car is also available with an updated 120 ps 1.0-litre T-GDi gasoline engine which now emits less CO2. In addition, the Ceed, Ceed Sportswagon, and XCeed ranges* are also offered with a 136 ps EcoDynamics+ diesel mild-hybrid option.
The Ceed GT and ProCeed GT remain as high-performance models within the Ceed family line-up, with a powerful 204 ps 1.6-litre T-GDi engine. The engine is also available in the XCeed in certain markets.
On-sale in Europe with Kia’s 7-Year warranty
The Ceed family’s new powertrains are now available to order across Europe. All models – including mild-hybrid variants – are sold with Kia’s unrivalled 7-Year, 150,000-kilometre warranty as standard.
