The carmaker says the Rio-based model hints at a potential future B-segment vehicle. Gregory Guillaume, chief designer at Kia's European styling base in Frankfurt, described it as ‘an emotional and muscular car aimed at delivering pure fun and performance for today's city-based enthusiast driver who longs for the curves of the open road’.

The model features a 1.6-litre Turbo GDi engine producing 201bhp with smart-4WD-hybrid technology from a 44bhp electric motor delivering extra power to the rear wheels when required and also allowing low-speed electric-only driving. It also offers Kia's first seven-speed DCT transmission.

The exterior design includes frameless doors, an aero-style splitter, carbon-fibre panels and tiny LED cluster front lights. Inside, there’s carbon fibre surfaces with traditional materials and high-gloss or anodised aluminium, building the connections with the track cars that Kia says inspired it.

Guillaume added: ‘This is entirely a car for European tastes and conditions. Designed purely at our Frankfurt studios the provo was conceived as a confident and single-minded statement of dynamism and energy to deliver a new sense of fun into the B-segment.’

The company added: ‘Whilst no specific production schedule for provo is on the calendar, the arrival later this summer of the new Kia pro_cee'd GT makes it clear that the company remains committed to delivering desirable, dynamic and stunningly attractive vehicles that will deliver affordable enjoyment to real, everyday motorists. The provo could be just such a car.’