- A Kia K4 / Ceed Hatchback has been involved in an accident while undergoing testing in Europe.
- The prototype was apparently rear-ended and received a significant amount of damage.
- The car was still drivable, although the rear wheel was clearly out of whack.
Accidents are a fact of life, but few involve prototypes. However, this Kia K4 / Ceed Hatchback is the rare exception as spy photographers said the model was rear-ended by another vehicle.
Details are limited, but that certainly appears to be the case as we can see shredded camouflage and what appears to be a busted rear bumper. Part of the wheel liner is also visible and you can see the rear suspension is clearly out of whack. In particular, the rear driver’s side wheel is pushed so far forward, it’s close to rubbing.
More: New Kia K4 Hatchback Teased, Will Join Sedan In North American Lineup
Other than that, there isn’t much to see as the prototype is heavily disguised. Of course, that doesn’t matter very much as Kia effectively revealed the model during the New York Auto Show.
However, there are some subtle differences between the North American and European variants including different daytime running lights, which are white in Europe but yellow in the United States. The front bumper also appears less extreme, but this could be due to different trims.
While it’s not entirely clear if this will be called the K4 or Ceed in Europe, the former seems possible as Kia has previously said “Pricing, specific timing for European market availability, trim details, and further details for the K4 are subject to future announcements.”
Regardless of what happens in Europe, the US-spec K4 Hatchback will likely echo the sedan and be offered with two different engines. The entry-level unit is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder developing 147 hp (110 kW / 149 PS) and 132 lb-ft (179 Nm) of torque. Customers can also get a 1.6-liter turbo with 190 hp (142 kW / 193 PS) and 195 lb-ft (264 Nm) of torque.
