There’s something fresh and exciting that Kia is having trouble keeping as a secret. Stylish curves, sports-coupe lines and an awesome turbocharged engine is going to be hard to keep under a veil of secrecy – and it just so happens that I’ve managed to sneak a peek at what is the stunning new Kia Cerato Koup.

Let’s get the essence on the Koup’s award winning design. With a view to portraying speed and agility, the new Cerato Koup has a low slung roof-line, compact outline and a bullet-shaped nose that adds up to a picture perfect hot hatch that is going to draw the attention. The car’s stance on the road is kinetic in its own right, and it’s the sort of two-door sports car that you just won’t get tired of admiring. Frameless doors, a lengthy body, side skirts and large alloys add to the car’s style, and Kia have got the right balance with the Koup’s crisp lines and great exterior detailing. A slim front grille and large air intakes look cool, and the Turbo versions feature a dark chrome front grille, LED lights and front fog lights. Kia Cerato Koup Si models come with some nice looking 17-inch rims. Turbo models boast wider 18-inch rims. The profile of the new Koup is enhanced by the use of frameless doors in the classy coupe design. It’s nice looks like this that put the new Kia Cerato Koup into the league of best looking hot hatches. Citroen’s DS4 will be watching over its shoulder with the arrival of the attractive new Cerato Koup just around the corner.

So how does the new Kia Cerato Koup move? The answer is… very well indeed – particularly with the newly designed 1.6-litre petrol-fed Turbo engine. Two engines are available, and even the standard 129 kW naturally aspirated 2.0-litre GDi petrol motor willingly shows a clean pair of heels and provides a healthy 209 Nm of torque. Turbo power lifts output levels to a juicy 150 kW and 265 Nm. A reduction in the new car’s front overhang has helped provide a better balanced chassis, and with plenty of grip and engine response most driving enthusiasts will be well impressed. When compared with the previous model, the new Kia Cerato Koup is 50 mm longer and 15 mm wider. Both engines can have a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic providing the go-power to the front wheels.

Interior room is up there with the best in class. Taking into account things like storage space, boot space and overall comfort, the Kia Cerato Koup does score very highly. With 433-litres of luggage space, this is large for a small two-door sports car and is among the largest in its class. Nice chrome trim on dark quality plastics provide tasteful style for the dash areas, and the speedometer and rev counter have clear, well defined numbers for easy reading. Blue lighting on the dash feels modern and the seats in the front are wide and comfortable. Bolsters for the front seats make for good support when the car is pushed hard through the corners. Room for rear seat passengers is good, and this is the small two-door sports coupe that I’d be wanting to travel in for the longer journeys – as the room inside is great for those who like good leg, head and shoulder space.

Handy volume inside the Kia Cerato Koup is dedicated to storage, and you’ll find that the large glove box, 700ml bottle holders in the front doors, cup holders in the rear, a holder for sunglasses, front cup holders and a big centre console box provide you with plenty of scope for carrying all the necessary little items on-board the car for the journey ahead.

Equipment levels are really good on the Kia Cerato Koup Si. Electric windows, air-conditioning and audio packages are standard. The Turbo model has a higher spec, and there will be a Kia Cerato Koup Turbo Touring option that has some extra nice features like leather seats, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control and DVD technology for rear seat occupants.

Kia’s new Cerato Koup has plenty of passive and active safety, with ESC, HAC (Hill-start Assist Control), VSM (Vehicle Stability Management) and ESS (Emergency Stop Signalling), front and rear parking sensors, dual front airbags, front side airbags and side curtain airbags all standard features.

One of the great Buzz Words for the new Kia Cerato Koup (which will more than establish itself in 2014) will be Price. You can pick up a brand new Cerato Koup Si 2.0-litre petrol three-door coupe from as little as $23,990 (manual), $26,190 (automatic). Opt for the fantastic 1.6-litre Turbo model and a Cerato Koup Turbo three-door coupe can be yours for $27,990 (manual), $30,190 (automatic). What makes these cars and their prices so good is that Kia also offers their new cars with a full five year/unlimited km warranty.

The latest Kia Cerato Koup models include the:

• Cerato Koup Si
• Cerato Koup Turbo
• Cerato Koup Turbo Touring

For any more information on the Kia Cerato Koup, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quotes requests out to our national network of Kia dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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