KIA Rio: Here comes number four

Frankfurt am Main, 1 September 2016

The top-selling car from VW? The golf. But what is it with Kia? The answer: The Rio. Worldwide sales of the compact car was 473.000 vehicles in 2015, the fourth edition of the bestseller is now on the Paris Salon (1st to 16th October 2016). Now there are the first official pictures.

Successful proportions

While the still current Rio, which came on the market in 2011, marked a real quantum leap in design, his successor relies on evolution. In fact, KIA has eliminated the optical flaws. The Rio towards the rear seems not so choppy, also the rear window are greater. But let's first front with our tour. There is the typical "Tiger nose"-Grill, while the new headlights slightly slimmer than so far. Extension of the bonnet, Front overhang and wheelbase (now 2.58 meters) improves the proportions, while C-pillar and rear window are more upright. By the way, there will be the Rio only as a five-door hatchback.

Turbo three-cylinder in sight

The new Kia Rio is 15 mm longer than its predecessor with 4.06 meters, at the same time he is minimally flat. Inside, the brand focuses on a cockpit with new console, which is inclined towards the driver. Here, a large touch screen, many functions have been integrated into the towers. So the already low number of buttons reduced further in the middle. Metal accents and surfaces in high-gloss black to delight the eye. To the technology under the sheet, Kia expressed only in Paris. However, it is likely that the 1,2 sucking gasoline with 85 HP in the programme remains to push the price below 10.000 euros. Moreover, new Turbo three-cylinder with 100 and 120HP rank as they are already used in the sister model of the Hyundai i20. The production of the European Rio version launching end 2016.(rh)

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