All-new Kia Picanto unveiled
Tuesday 04 January 2011
The wraps have been taken off an all-new Kia Picanto, which is set to make its debut at the Geneva motor show on March 1.
Kia has confirmed that the new Picanto will be offered in hatchback form only, although there will be a choice of three or five doors. The outgoing model, introduced in 2004, is available as a five-door hatchback only.
There will also be up to four engines available. Each is an all-new unit, with 1.0 and 1.2-litre petrol engines accounting for the bulk of sales. However, where there’s enough interest, Kia will also be selling cars capable of running on LPG as well as bi-fuel and flex-fuel models.
A clean exhaust has been one of the key goals for Kia, with the new Picanto claimed to offer class-leading low levels of CO2 emissions. The cleanest should dip below 100g/km, to allow free road tax.
The new Kia Picanto will be longer than the current car, with the extra length going between the front and rear axles. This will increase cabin space as well as comfort and practicality.
The pictures show a car that looks very modern, thanks to Kia design chief Peter Schreyer, who says the car has “a more sure-footed stance”.
The original Picanto has always been very well received by critics as well as buyers. Excellent value and superbly reliable, as well as neatly designed and good to drive, the Picanto was one of the new generation of Kia models that allowed the company to compete with higher-profile car makers.
As with the current Picanto, the new model will be priced from around £7,000, which means it will have to take on rivals like the Ford Ka, Nissan Micra, Suzuki Alto, Toyota Aygo and Hyundai i10.
By Richard Dredge