Does New Kia Cee'd Foreshadow Next Forte?

The compact Forte hit the U.S. market in 2010 with coupe and sedan body styles; a hatchback joined for model-year 2011. It slots above the subcompact Rio in price and size. The new Cee’d debuting in Geneva is longer and wider than the previous version and features a sportier-looking face than the current Forte. It wears what the automaker calls “the latest interpretation of Kia’s tiger-nose grille” and also has a larger Kia badge, more chrome exterior trim and sweeping headlight housing with LED lights. 

The exterior makes it looks like Kia is moving upmarket with its compact, and so does the interior. Inside, Kia says it used more premium materials and has an upgraded touch-screen navigation system. 

The redesigned Cee’d will go on sale in Europe later this year. There’s no word yet on whether any of the Cee’d’s features or styling will make it to the Forte, but chances are the Cee’d and its new grille preview design changes for the Kia lineup.