Kia is unlikely to introduce a hot hatch version of its Pro Cee'd until 2010.

It is expected Kia will produce and engine generating over 180bhp and will tweak suspension settings to improve grip and handling.

One Kia engineer said: "There is agreement at the highest level that a performance version of the Pro Cee’d would give us a great halo product, but we have to find the time the develop it properly."

Less likely is a production version of the Cee'd convertible concept seen at last September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Company insiders said that if the project were to go ahead it would have to be contracted out to a specialist manufacturer as there is insufficient production availability at Kia’s Cee’d production plant in Slovakia.