BETTER PARTSCultured force dwarf
Frankfurt am Main, 16 February 2017
It was already often said, but it is becoming more and more true: Microcars are increasingly powerful and luxurious. The best example is the new Kia Picanto. It shows a how equipment from higher series walking down and, secondly, that small cars must be not only car.
Remained small, chic made
We turn to the facts: will be presented the new Kia Picanto at the Geneva Auto Show (9 to 19 March 2017), he comes to the dealer at the beginning of the second quarter 2017. demand of lack of is deleted the three-door, there are KIAS smallest only as a five-door hatchback. A positive surprise: The dimensions have changed little. Length (3.59 m), width (1.59 m) and height (1.48 meters) remain the same. When the wheelbase, there is a slight increase of 15 millimetres. The front overhang was shortened, lengthened the rear overhang. Put it another way: the new Picanto is not more so nasenbärig like its predecessor. The "Tiger nose" on the front evokes associations to the large Optima while back still most likely the predecessor Shimmers through. Depending on the version, there are headlights with LED-flashing beacons, in the course of the year 2017, a "shark" antenna replaced the conventional version.
A question of space
KIA promises more space for the new Picanto. A higher bottom edge of the dash to give the front passengers more legroom, in the rear, the backrests are somewhat stronger than so far inclined. Nice: Between the front seats, there's a longitudinally adjustable armrest: A swipe on the biggest rival the VW can up to KIA resist. The one-piece backrest are explicitly front with integrated headrests mentioned indicating that the headrests in the new Picanto in height and inclination adjustable are. The luggage compartment offers a variable floor in the future. So fit between 255 and 1.010 liters, so far were 200 to 870 litres.
Multimedia upgrade
Whoever wants to can upgrade his KIA Picanto to the noble multimedia tot. A navigation system with Central seven-inch touchscreen makes it possible. These included Android car and Apple CarPlay. On offer are also a reversing camera with the display of lines for parking and an inductive charging station for smartphones. A USB connection is always standard. Six airbags provide for security, there is still a knee airbag and an autonomous emergency braking assistant.
Long live the sports
The Picanto GT line is a premiere. This sport version features modified bumpers, a dual-pipe exhaust and colour accents in red, silver or black on the body. 16-inch Leichtmetalfelgen and leather are also for the Interior in the delivery schedule.
Threesome Turbo
Keep not only pure Angebertum, the GT-line KIA bought a turbo engine with three cylinders, one litre engine capacity and 100 HP the new Picanto. The unit is already known from the new Kia Rio and the Hyundai i20. In the case of the Picanto, 172 nm of maximum torque between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm to beech stand. A note on driving enjoyment, because KIAS of smallest weighs about a ton. In 10.1 seconds, 100 sprints 1.0 T GDI on pace, at 180 km/h, the end of the flagpole is reached. Comparison: the one liter turbo in the VW up produces 90 HP and 160 Newton metres, is slightly faster but with maximum 185 mph.
A real Pussyfoot?
As with the other units in the new Picanto, five gears are as standard, as well a start stop system. The engine mates are old acquaintances, who were comprehensively revised according to KIA. Base drive is a three-cylinder 67 HP, about a 1.2 liter four-cylinder with 84 ranked HP. Increases the maximum torque to one or two Newton metres at two machines, also a four-speed automatic transmission is available for the 1.2. The low noise of the new Picanto will be highlighted: a first test whether the supplied 68 dB at speeds 100 actually quietly sound must clarify. Those who wish on the Turbo Picanto must wait until the autumn of 2017. To the prices of the series KIA does not react yet. So far, the five-door hatchback began 9.440 euro, a price just below the 10,000-euro mark is likely. (rh)