Kia is aiming for a younger and more style-conscious customer with the new Picanto supermini, due to make an appearance at the Geneva motor show in March.
The second-generation city car, has a much more stylish and confident look than its forebear.
See the official pics of the new Kia Picanto
Kia’s ‘tiger eye’ grille gives the car recognisable visual links with several larger models in the Kia line-up, while its upright stance, stub nose and backwards-swept headlights strike a particularly strong fraternal resemblance with the Venga mini-MPV.
Elsewhere on the car, as Kia design boss Peter Schreyer explains, “significant sculpting and a prominent rising character line results in a layering of light and shadow that breaks up the height of the car, giving it a more surefooted stance”.
Read more on the new Kia Picanto
Although Kia has yet to release photographs of the car’s interior, Autocar understands that it features a two-spoke steering wheel, as well as satin-finish material trims for a hi-tech, more expensive ambience. Audio and air conditioning controls will be concentrated on a centralised console.
The new Picanto is longer than the outgoing car, with a longer wheelbase to provide more cabin space for occupants. Like the outgoing car, it will be offered as a five-door globally, but a sportier three-door will be available in Europe.
The new Picanto will be powered by a choice of 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.25-litre four-cylinder petrol engines to begin with. A 1.1-litre, four-cylinder CRDi diesel Picanto will also join the range after launch, offering 74bhp and 112lb ft of torque. Biofuel and LPG versions will be offered in other global markets.
Matt Saunders
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