2008 Kia cee'd SW Hatchback Car Review and Specs | 2008 Kia cee'd SW Hatchback Car Wallpaper Pictures Pics

KIA cee’d SW has been created especially for European consumers featuring five-door hatchback model which is already proving to be immensely popular. Now the cee’d family is expanding with the introduction of the SW, which makes its world premiere at the 77th Salon de l’Automobiles in Geneva this week in production form, with a unique extended tailgate for maximum accessibility to the luggage area.

The launch of the cee’d family marks a major turning point in Kia’s history. Bringing this trio to the marketplace is the start of a new era. They are the first Kia cars designed and manufactured in Europe and will introduce a qualitative revolution for the brand. The highest standards of engineering and European-style aesthetics have been applied to every aspect of cee’d.

“The new Kia cee’d SW retains all the attributes of the cee’d hatchback and offers consumers extra practicality and versatility, with a unique extended tailgate design, while keeping stylish good looks with a truly sporty feel,” enthused Mr Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. “With ride, handling and performance every bit as responsive as the hatchback, the SW will be available with a selection of engines and specifications. The SW is sure to delight existing Kia customers and to attract European consumers who have not yet considered our brand.”

The 4.5-metre cee’d SW has an unusually long wheelbase and will offer class-leading passenger and luggage space, plus highly competitive levels of equipment and state-of-the-art active and passive safety. Customers in Europe will be able to choose from a varied line-up of SWs, with a choice of engine, trims and transmissions.

Improving on a great hatchback design

The trio of Kia cee’d models was conceived and created simultaneously, so the new SW has the same in-depth engineering integrity as the hatchback. The SW is a completely individual design featuring fresh panels, its own distinctive styling and a special extended tailgate design that allows easy access to the luggage area.

While the 2,650 mm wheelbase is retained, to boost load carrying ability and versatility, the estate’s overall length is increased by 235 mm, with all of that increase behind the rear wheels, and overall height is increased by 10 mm. Luggage capacity goes up to a total of 534 litres – loaded up to the bottom of the rear windows and including 55 litres of storage in moulded trays beneath the floor, fitted as standard. This is almost 200 litres more than the cee’d hatchback.

With the 60/40 split rear seats folded flat luggage capacity goes up to 1664 litres, 300 litres more than the cee’d hatchback in similar configuration. The cee’d SW’s maximum capacity is 50-to-60 litres more than the Renault Megane and Vauxhall Astra wagons.

Although capacity, practicality and versatility are key areas of consideration for wagon buyers, in today’s highly competitive C-segment styling is also of paramount importance. Thanks to its early conception in the cee’d creative process, the SW has ‘stand-alone’ good looks despite a degree of commonality with other cee’d models.

From the nose to the B-pillars, hatchback and wagon share common components – even the rear side doors are the same – but the wagon has distinctive ‘Z’ shape rear pillars and ‘L’ shaped rear light clusters which, together with the increased length, give the wagon a very different appearance.

‘Up and away’ all-new unique tailgate

The tailgate on the cee’d SW is all-new, unique in the C-segment, and designed to give excellent access to the load area. Compared to the cee’d hatchback, the top hinges have been moved forward by 225 mm and the tailgate extended into the roofline by the same amount. Locating the hinges so far forwards changes the arc through which the tailgate swings when being opened. The outswing and upswing are reduced by 72 mm so that users can stand closer to the car and the tailgate can be fully opened, even in restricted parking spaces.

The all-new tailgate design gives the Kia cee’d SW one of the most accessible load areas in the C-segment. The length of the opening is 135 mm greater than the cee’d five-door hatchback and at 965 mm it is the biggest in the class. The depth of the opening is 855 mm (225 mm up on the hatch), so users will find it easy to load cargo without having to bend down when sliding items into the car.

The load area space (with the rear seats upright) measures 1021 mm deep at floor level, 764 mm deep at the window line, 1040 mm wide (between the wheel arches), and 1070 mm wide at the rear of the car.

Higher power, lower consumption

Made in Slovakia, the all-new 1.6-litre CRDi 16-valve diesel engine features an electrically actuated advanced variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) to ensure lively performance and clean emissions. Its power and torque figures are highly competitive – 115 PS and 255 Nm. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission as standard.

The Kia cee’d SW can also be ordered with class-competitive 16-valve petrol engine, fitted with performance-boosting continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) and upgraded electronic multi-point fuel injection. The 1.6-litre engine is supplied with a five-speed manual transmission as standard.

Smooth-shifting gears, plus automatic option

Although manual transmission will be the standard equipment on cee’d, it will be available with automatic transmission as an extra-cost option. The cee’d automatic is a four-speed gearbox, featuring an electronic controller, which monitors a range of parameters, ensuring safe gear changes with excellent shift quality, and also adapts the transmission’s characteristics to suit an individual’s driving style.

Interior crafted to satisfy every user’s senses

“The interior design of cee’d is so good that when potential customers first open the door and step into cee’d they are going to be deeply impressed,” enthuses David Labrosse, Manager Product Planning, Kia R&D Centre, Russelsheim. “We are presenting customers with more closely matched materials, more soft-touch surfaces and more high quality fabrics, to suit local tastes. Like the hatchback, the cee’d SW will empower Kia buyers to create their own interiors and their own atmosphere.”

The SW front door hinges feature three ‘steps’ – the last position an extra-wide 70 degrees, as one of the key design briefs for Kia’s new C-segment models was to ensure easy entry and excellent access both front and rear.

To optimise its practicality in the role of load-lugger, the cee’d SW gains six different equipment items. Five feature in the luggage compartment – a 12v power outlet in the side panel, twin side storage trays, an extended under-floor storage tray, roller-blind tonneau cover and an extending roller-style vertical luggage retaining net (optional). Outside, there are full roof rails to which a variety of bike, ski and luggage containers can be attached.

Driver-focused cockpit and controls

Although the SW is a strongly family and lifestyle-oriented model, the driver will enjoy the feeling of a ‘compact and sporty’ cockpit with its thick-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel, three-dial instrument cluster beneath a tightly curved cowling and centre stack angled towards the driver. All the controls are ergonomically designed to place them within easy reach of the driver’s hands and the overall layout has true elegance. Great attention has been given to the feel of how all the controls function so that even the most minor of switches has an appropriately tactile and satisfying quality when operated.

Seating for five in spacious comfort

The cee’d front seats are a semi-bucket design with reclining backrests operated by a knurled rotary control. These multi-adjustable seats have wider cushions and backrests to offer superior support with generous proportions to accommodate drivers and passengers of all shapes and sizes. Adjustable lumbar support is available on both driver and passenger seats.

All SW models are fitted with a 60/40 split rear seat cushion and backrest. To increase luggage space, the cushions tip forwards and the backrests fold completely flat, aligning neatly with the trunk floor. Slots to store the detachable rear head restraints when the seats are folded, are provided in the underside of the cushions.

Wide range of choices with three equipment levels

Standard equipment for the S model includes: six airbags, speed-sensing automatic door locks, active front head restraints and three-point seats belts for all five occupants, air conditioning, central locking, electric front windows, four-speaker audio system and audio controls on the steering wheel, plus an integrated information cluster with trip computer.

Buyers of the GS and LS models benefit from additional or upgraded equipment including: electric door mirrors, cloth/leather seat trim, front fog lamps, keyless entry and anti-theft alarm, centre console with storage and armrest, twin front tweeter speakers and USB, AUX and iPod® connections. Full climate control is added to the LS trim level.

Customers for the seven range-topping TX models will enjoy a cee’d that is also equipped with 16-inch alloys wheels, ESP and BAS, fully automatic air-conditioning, leather pack interior, electric rear windows with auto up/down and safety sensors and a rear centre armrest.

Chassis and running gear

Like the cee’d hatchback, the SW is fitted with fully independent front and rear suspension systems, designed to deliver crisp, responsive handling and a supple, comfortable ride on European roads, even when fully laden.

For the SW, spring and damper rates in the MacPherson Strut (front) and ‘in-wheel multi-link’ (rear) suspension are fine-tuned to accommodate this model’s slightly increased weight and the same choice of steel and alloy wheels is available – all shod exclusively with Michelin tyres. All cee’d models come with a steel space-saver spare wheel – located in the trunk floor well.

To save fuel and deliver responsive handling in everyday driving, the SW also has Kia’s latest MDPS (motor driven power steering) system. This electric power-assisted rack and pinion steering has relatively high gearing, with good ‘feel’ under all driving conditions.

One of the safest C-segment cars

Every cee’d SW has a powerful all-disc braking system featuring ABS anti-lock with EBD electronic brake force distribution. The LS model is equipped with ESP (electronic stability control) as an option, together with TCS (all-speed traction control) and BAS (emergency brake assist).

All five seats have manually adjustable head restraints and three-point seatbelts as standard. Integrated ‘active’ head restraints will be standard on both the front seats of all models. During a rear impact, these head restraints move forwards to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries to the neck or back.

Every cee’d will be equipped with six airbags as standard – dual front airbags, front side airbags and full-length front and rear curtain airbags, protecting the occupants in both seat rows.

Maximum customer choice and vehicle sensuality

Two core themes behind the introduction of the Kia cee’d hatchback are replicated in the SW – maximum customer choice and sensuality.

Maximum customer choice means that the SW will be available with a number of engines, trim and equipment levels, interior concepts, trim fabrics and exterior colours so Kia can respond to individual customer tastes and build vehicles to meet their specific requirements.

Taking full advantage of the opportunity to produce a new model targeted at a specific group of consumers, rather than a car required to have universal appeal, Kia’s design teams have created a family of cee’d cars to ‘satisfy all your senses’. Adopting the core theme of sensuality, the designers were determined that cee’d would be attractive to see, nice to touch, pleasant to smell and a joy to hear – from the sound of the door opening, to the muted engine at idle, sporty exhaust rasp under acceleration and to the choice of audio entertainment.

High-performing audio entertainment

As standard, all cee’d SW models come with a purpose-built RDS radio/single CD player complete with MP3 compatibility, and four audio speakers, plus audio controls on the steering wheel. Both the GS and LS models will have USB and AUX iPod® connections in the centre console, so SW owners can play their favourite music through the car’s speakers, which include front tweeters for good treble tone definition.

Revolutionary Kia 7-Year Warranty

In Europe, the new Kia cee’d SW will come with the same extended warranty package as the hatchback cee’d models – as standard.

In fact, every Kia in the cee’d family marketed by Kia Motors Europe will benefit from a 7-year / 100,000-mile new car warranty. The ‘best’ new vehicle warranty ever offered in Europe, the Kia warranty will be free and transferable to subsequent owners.

Thanks to the high quality of vehicles coming from Kia’s brand-new facility in Slovakia, Kia is demonstrating its commitment to maximum customer satisfaction and lowered costs of vehicle ownership, by offering this revolutionary warranty. Kia views this warranty as an important long-term customer relations measure. It comprises five years bumper-to-bumper cover on the entire car and an additional two years cover on the powertrain.

Pre-launch orders point to a Big Success

“When we launched the Kia cee’d hatchback we knew it was going to be Kia’s best-ever challenger for C-segment honours in the European marketplace. We were confident it would revolutionise Kia’s fortunes in this sector.

After the first press drives in late 2006, media reaction was overwhelmingly positive and before cee’d was on sale across Europe in January, Kia had received more than 17,000 pre-orders for its newcomer.

“The Kia cee’d is a Kia that looks better, feels better and drives better. I think it really is a great car and the challenge for our dealer network will be getting people to try it for themselves. Once consumers have seen it, touched it, sampled its performance and learned about our 7-year warranty, they will surely be convinced that a decision to buy this car is indeed the right choice,” concluded Jean-Charles Lievens.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – KIA cee’d SW

Body & Chassis

Five-seat, five-door estate, with all-steel unitary body-chassis construction. Choice of transversely-mounted engines driving the front wheels via a number of transmission options.

Suspension & Damping

Front

Independent by MacPherson Struts, with coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers, anti-roll stabiliser bar

Rear

Independent compact multi-link rear axle, with coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers, anti-roll stabiliser bar

Chassis

MDPS electric power-assisted rack and pinion steering

Brakes

Front – 280 mm ventilated discs / Rear – 262 mm solid discs, 4-channel ABS anti-lock system with EBD; ESP and BAS available

Wheels & Tyres

From 15 in x 5.5J with 185/65 R15 tyres up to 17 in x 6.5J with 225/45 R17 tyres

Dimensions

Exterior

Overall length

4470 mm

Overall width

1790 mm (excluding door mirrors)

Overall height

1490 mm

Wheelbase

2650 mm

Front track

1546 mm

Rear track

1544 mm

Luggage (VDA)

534 litres (all seats upright)

1664 litres (back seats folded)

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2008 Kia cee'd SW Hatchback Review

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