KOREAN car maker Kia is continuing its move upmarket with a sleek new model it will reveal in concept form at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The company says the design is a clue to the next generation cee'd hatchback which has become one of its top selling models in Europe.

So far only this teaser image has been released but it shows a new direction for Kia's design team.

Looking more of a four-door coupe with pronounced rear haunches, the concept is very much a ‘hot hatch' take signalling Kia's intention to move into the sportier end of the market.

Kia says: "The concept presents a new body type for Kia. The extended hot hatch styling retains the athleticism of the current pro_cee'd model, while combining its striking visual presence with a dash of real-world versatility."

The company adds: "Reworked and reimagined for a new generation of driver, it puts forward a bold vision for a potential member of the next-generation cee'd family."

With the cee'd produced in Europe at Kia's factory in Slovakia alongside the Sportage SUV and Venga compact MPV, the concept model has been styled at its design centre in Frankfurt, only a stone's throw from the exhibition centre where it will be revealed on September 12.