Once again, three has proven to be a lucky number for Kia. Following the launch of the new third‑generation Kia Ceed, currently sold in Europe in three different body styles, each of the three newcomers has received an iF Design Award. This triple victory in the globally recognized design competition marks the third consecutive year in which Kia has achieved a hat‑trick of iF Design Awards.
This success further underscores Kia’s reputation for outstanding design, shaped for more than a decade by Peter Schreyer, President of Design and Chief Vehicle Designer at Kia. The brand received its first iF Award in 2010, and since then has succeeded every year in creating at least one model that reached the winners’ podium. To date, Kia has received a total of 18 iF Design Awards.
The awards were presented to each variant of the new Ceed range: the Ceed hatchback, Ceed Sportswagon, and the new ProCeed shooting brake, which went on sale in Europe in mid‑January. All three versions are produced at Kia’s plant in Žilina, Slovakia.
Clean Lines and Dynamic Proportions Define the New Ceed Generation
The design of the new Ceed generation is characterized by clean lines, inspired by the sporty fastback sedan Kia Stinger, which itself won an iF Design Award in 2018. The five‑door Ceed hatchback is wider and lower than its predecessor, with the cabin positioned further rearward to achieve a more athletic appearance. From the side, the rear pillar stands out by giving the upper window line an elegant crescent shape.
The Ceed Sportswagon offers more space than ever before in the compact segment. The third‑generation model has been extended in length and provides owners with a larger luggage compartment (625 liters) than its competitors—and even more than many vehicles in higher classes. Thanks to its intelligent dimensions and dynamic new design, the latest Ceed Sportswagon is sportier than all of its predecessors.
The ProCeed features an entirely new design and is Kia’s first compact shooting brake. It combines striking elegance with the spaciousness and versatility of a tourer, while clearly standing out among its siblings thanks to its proportions and unique stance. With a height of 1,422 mm, it is the lowest vehicle in the lower‑mid segment. The defining element of its profile is the dynamic roofline, which ends in a sharply angled rear window. Its exceptional design is particularly evident from the rear, where an illuminated strip connecting the LED taillights—a first in this class—gives the ProCeed a distinctive lighting signature.
iF Design Award 2019: 6,400 Entries from 50 Countries
Founded in 1953, the iF Design Award is one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions. It is held annually in Hanover, under the auspices of iF International Forum Design GmbH, the world’s oldest independent design institution.
In 2019, companies from 50 countries submitted 6,400 products, which were evaluated by an international jury of 67 design experts.
The iF Design Award covers seven categories: Product Design, Communication Design, Packaging Design, Service Design (UX), Architecture, Interior Design, and Professional Concept. The new Kia models were honored in the Product Design category, subcategory Automobiles. All winning products can be viewed in the iF World Design Guide, the iF Design App, and will be showcased at the iF Design Exhibition in Hamburg’s HafenCity district.
