Sydney show: Cerato makes it debut

KIA took the wraps off its new Cerato sedan at the Australian International Motor Show at Darling Harbour today ahead of its showroom arrival early in 2009.

The work of ex-Volkswagen designer and now Kia’s global styling chief Peter Schreyer, the Cerato is the first model in Australia to display the distinctive new ‘H-grille’ design which the South Korean brand has elected to use across its range of cars.

According to Kia, the Cerato will appeal to those wanting to downsize from medium-size cars, although the new model is longer and wider than the existing Cerato sedan, with a longer wheelbase and bigger interior and boot. To put the Cerato’s size into perspective, Kia claims it has more interior space than the first-generation Toyota Camry sold in Australia.

The new Cerato will be powered by a new 2.0-litre petrol engine with continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) for what Kia claims will be class-leading (but as yet unspecified) power and torque, delivering the pulling power and responsiveness but not the fuel consumption of a bigger engine.

Kia did not release the specifications and pricing today for Australian-specification Cerato. The new model will be covered by Kia’s new five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty for private buyers (five-year/130,000kms for fleet buyers) introduced in February this year.

Also on the stand – and still covered in Outback mud and dust – were two Kia Sorentos prepped for off-road use and driven 40,000km through the Outback by renowned 4WD identity Pat Callinan for his new 4WD show, Pat Callinan’s 4x4 Adventures. A Sportage prepped to take on the Simpson Desert was also on display.

Kia also used the Sydney show to announce its new driver education program – Kia Young Drivers – which will be conducted specifically for Australia’s young drivers in partnership with driver education outfit Mind over Motor. The first of the seven-hour, one-day courses are due to start in Melbourne and Sydney in early 2009.

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