Kia pro-cee'd news - Pro' choice - 2008

Looks good, eh? A bit Astra-ish at the back, maybe, a bit of Mazda 3 in there too - but not overly derivative-looking. We like it... even without a thumb over the badge. 

Yes, it's a Kia. More specifically, it's the Kia pro-cee'd, the three-door version of the cee'd family hatch and proof that although the Koreans are no closer to grasping the nuances of western punctuation, they're getting there when it comes to building a good-looking car. 

We've already been impressed by the cee'd's (so many apostrophes...) manners and looks, and the pro-cee'd seems set to improve on that decent base. It's a more striking beast to look at, with a more pronounced flank line, bigger wheels and a fatter new front valance than its five-door cousin. 

Engines choices should remain the same, with 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol options and two 1.6-litre diesels. However, a Hyundai-sourced two-litre turbocharged petrol powerplant could arrive early next year, which should propel the pro-cee'd into the realms of hot-hatchery.

The pro-cee'd will be on Kia's stand at the Frankfurt show in September, alongside the coupe concept that we glimpsed earlier this month. We should start seeing the first models on the road early next year, by which time we'll have had a good drive of the pro-cee'd to tell you everything you need to know about it. 

We can say without a hint of sarcasm that we're looking forward to it.