The new Picanto

Keeping its line up fresh and up date has been Kia’s aim for 2011, as well as releasing new Kia Pro Ceed last year; the new Kia Picanto will be available this year. For the first time the Picanto will be available as a 5 door and 3 door models. The Picanto has had to up its game as the supermini sector has become very competitive with even premium brands like Audi entering the segment.

The new Kia Picanto will make its international debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March; the latest generation Picanto has been designed and engineered to stand out from the competition as well as its outgoing model. The new Kia Picanto is longer than the previous model, and has an extended wheelbase making more space for passenger comfort and a 27% increase in cargo space.

On its release the Kia Picanto will be available with a choice of four engines, three of these are based on the 1.0 litre Kappa engine and the other is a 1.2 litre four cylinder Kappa unit. In the 1.0 litre range there will be the petrol, flex fuel and bi-fuel variants.

Power outputs will range from 69 to 85 bhp, with maximum torque between 94 and 121 Nm. Exhaust emissions have been significantly reduced, so that regular models in the new Kia Picanto line-up will have a CO2 rating of 95 to 105 g/km. The bi-fuel 1-litre engine will generate 82 bhp and 94 Nm of torque. The engines will be available with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions, depending on model.

Pricing for the UK and European markets will not be announced until closer to the launch date.



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