Unionists unhappy with Kia's new Provo

Korean car maker Kia has acceded to calls to rebrand its latest model - the Provo - because of the name's association with the Provisional IRA.

Unionist MPs said the Kia Provo should be renamed and given a title which is “not associated with terror and mayhem”.

The Democratic Unionist Party’s Gregory Campbell (East Derry) and William McCrea (South Antrim) claimed the name had caused “deep offence”.

The Provo concept car was unveiled at the Geneva motor show, with Kia claiming the “sleek, low, yet muscular coupe-style” design was “meant to be cheeky and cheerful in its compactness and to hint at the fun awaiting on the open road”.

But in a British Commons motion the MPs said: “This name has caused deep offence given that the Provisional IRA were known as the Provos when they were murdering and bombing in Northern Ireland, the rest of the UK, as well as in Germany, where the name is supposed to have been chosen.”

The motion “calls on Kia to reconsider, and bring forward a new name which is not associated with terror and mayhem”.

Kia  announced this evening the car would be given another name if production goes ahead in the UK. There was no word on how Kia may choose to promote the car in the Republic.
"There was absolutely no intention to cause offence. The name comes from 'provoke' - as in provoking a reaction," a company spokesman told UTV.