Kia Procee'd GT prices and specs

The Kia Proceed GT will be priced from £19,995 when it goes on sale in July.

Powered by Kia’s new turbocharged 1.6-litre direct injection engine, it has outputs of 201bhp and 195ft lb, with 80 per cent of its torque available from 1500rpm. The hatchback will complete 0-60 in 7.4sec on its way to a top speed of 143mph. Combined fuel consumption is a claimed 38.2mpg with CO2 emissions pegged at 171g/km.

The brake discs measure 300mm front and 262mm rear, the largest in the Ceed range, whilst the steering has been tuned for a more sporting feel, removing the selective variable ratio steering in the standard car. The dampers have higher compression and rebound rates, stiffer bushes, springs and a larger anti-roll bar. 18in alloys and Michelin Pilot 3 Tyres are standard.

It will be offered in two trims, ‘GT’ and ‘GT Tech’, but there will also be a launch model, ‘GT 1st Edition’ which gains unique styling tweaks and is limited to 50 cars in the UK, with 500 produced overall. All models have their front wheels driven via a six-speed manual gearbox. The Proceed GT is distinguished from lesser Proceeds by its larger front air intakes, GT badges and rear diffuser whilst internally it receives leather and suede Recaro seats, Bluetooth and air conditioning, with the GT Tech also getting satnav, heated seats and steering wheel and a reversing camera.

This is Kia’s most performance orientated car to date, but up against the the Ford Focus ST - which is £1000 pricier - the Kia has a power deficit of almost 50bhp. The Hyundai Veloster Turbo is also a rival, sharing the Proceed's engine (though detuned to 184bhp) and kicking off at the same price point in basic trim.

Keep your eyes on evo.co.uk for a first drive of the Kia Proceed GT in the coming days.