Kia already sells the Soul, Niro, Sportage, and Sorento crossovers in the US, so you wouldn't think there would be any niches left to fill in the lucrative crossover segment. However, last month the Korean automaker outlined plans to launch a new compact crossover in the US in 2020 inspired by the SP Concept in India – and this could be our first look at it. Our spies have spotted a heavily camouflaged prototype of a new compact Kia crossover based on the Ceed that will slot in between the Kia Stonic and Kia Niro in Europe.

The copious amounts of camouflage implies this will be more than just a jacked up version of the Ceed hatchback. Not only will it have a different front and rear end, but we're also expecting it to have a completely different body compared to the Ceed. The suspension has been raised and roof rails have also been added. The crossover also rides on chunkier tires than the Ceed. Unfortunately, we don't have any photos of the interior yet but expect the cabin to be more premium than the Ceed's.

Engine options and transmission options should carry over from the Ceed in Europe, but it isn't yet clear if Kia's compact crossover will come with all-wheel drive. A range of 1.0- and 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline units and a 1.6-liter diesel will most likely be offered in Europe mated to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Rumors suggest the Kia Ceed crossover will debut at Geneva in March 2019 before launching in Europe later in the year. Hopefully, we'll learn more about its US counterpart soon.