All-new third-generation Kia Cerato sedan

Now, an all-new version of the Cerato sedan is scheduled to go on sale during January 2013 at Aljabr Automotive Showrooms in Saudi Arabia, to be followed by five-door hatchback and two-door coupe variants of the new model later in the year.

Sporting a sleeker profile with futuristic and dynamic styling, the all-new Cerato sedan is longer, lower and wider than the current car, with an extended wheelbase. It features an all-new re-engineered bodyshell structure and will also boast improved quality, upgraded equipment with a host of additional convenience and safety features, a more spacious cabin with enhanced quality, improved refinement and an upgraded powertrain line-up that delivers class-leading fuel economy.

"Cerato has become our brand's biggest-selling export model, so the introduction of its third-generation is hugely significant for Kia," commented Abdulsalam Aljabr, Aljabr's Automotive Vice President.

The original Kia Cerato focused on quality and price, and recorded sales of 1.23 million units. The second-generation vehicle introduced in 2008, majored on design, quality and value. It has achieved more than 1.21 million sales around the world so far.

"We are raising our game once again with the all-new Cerato, which adds emotional appeal to its established core values of design, quality and value," adds Mr Aljabr.

"This all-new model will boost our competitiveness in the compact car segment - known as the C-segment in many countries - which is one of the world's most important and closely fought marketplaces."

While creating the all-new Cerato, Kia's designers and engineers have listened closely to customer feedback. The resulting new car is a bold demonstration of Kia's determination to deliver models which exceed customer expectations and provide a rewarding long-term ownership experience for Kia buyers.

"Although economic uncertainties continue in some markets, we are confident that the all-new Cerato with its transformed appearance, broad range of new features, improved powertrains, refinement and fuel economy, will attract both existing and new customers to Kia showrooms in increasing numbers.

"When all three bodystyles of new Cerato/Forte are on sale in 2014, we anticipate achieving annual global sales for this model approaching 500,000 units, including more than 100,000 sales in General Market countries*, to claim a 3.3% share of the global C1 Segment," concluded Mr Aljabr.

The result of 42 months design, engineering and development work and an investment of more than 300 billion Korean Won (US$250 million), the third-generation Cerato models will be manufactured at Kia's Hwasung facility in Korea.

All-new Cerato is a genuine world car, created to appeal to current Cerato owners and to the increasing numbers of customers down-sizing their cars who still desire a spacious and generously equipped vehicle. New Cerato is scheduled to go on sale in around 130 countries when the K3 and Forte markets are included.

Production of four-door sedan models began in November 2012, with the five-door hatchback and two-door coupe models scheduled to join the build program in the spring and summer of 2013. Echoing the line-up of the second-generation Cerato, Kia will not build a wagon version of the third-generation Cerato model.