Prior to this, all we had to go on with regards to Kia’s third-generation Picanto city car was a artist’s drawing of the car which, let’s be honest, could never be an accurate representation of the as-yet under wraps car with its exaggerated proportions and way-too-big wheels.
The official premiere itself is slated for the Geneva Motor Show that will be underway later in March. Thankfully, Kia won’t make us wait that long and has elected to release some early pictures of the A-segment hatch. Kia says it will make Australian landfall in the second quarter of 2017.
As was previously disclosed, much of the design and engineering work that went into the all-new Picanto originates between Kia’s design centres in Namyang, South Korea and Frankfurt, Germany.
Seen here in the higher ‘GT-Line’ grade that doubtless puts gives us a better first impression with its sprinkling of sporty details (body kit, bigger alloys, etc) and red accents inside and out. However, all Picantos will sport that noticeably more European-looking body.
It sports a 15mm longer wheelbase at 2,400mm between axles, meaning a small improvement in handling in and of itself but more importantly contributes to a larger cabin. In spite of this, the Picanto is still as compact as the current version, measuring 3,595mm from nose to tail.
Inside, the car now features an upgraded interior layout, new materials and a suite of more sophisticated tech features such as the infotainment screen that now ‘floats’ atop the centre stack - very German, that.
The higher-spec variants will also come with satellite navigation, affirmed by the interior preview shot. Smartphone integration from Apple with CarPlay and Google with Android Auto will likely be included as well.
Kia is also keen to emphasise the all-new Picanto’s personalisation options with a range of colours for trim and upholstery. Outside, buyers can choose from 11 paint options.
For more on Kia vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
