2017 Kia Picanto Leaked, Has Rio Genes

The pictured 2017 Kia Picanto resembles a Stormtrooper’s helmet, especially if the body is painted white. Compared to the tiny tiger-nose grille of yesteryear, the all-new Picanto prides itself on a grille that extends from one headlight to the other, thus making the vehicle look wider than it actually is.

Coming courtesy of Mike from Kia-World, the photograph also reveals Rio (YB)-inspired headlights with U-shaped signature lighting. Lower down, the front bumper resembles a catfish with its mouth wide open. The lower grille is flanked by side scoops that house rectangular fog lights. Taken as a whole, I’d say that the third-gen Picanto looks miles better than the current model.

For the profile and rear end, we currently have to rely on older spy photographs from our dependable shutterbugs. Whereas the side doesn't reveal anything particularly sexy about the Picanto, the hind boasts C-shaped taillights and a short overhang. The interior isn’t something to write home about, save for the funky air vents and a touchscreen-based floating infotainment system that extends up and off the car's dashboard.

Under the skin, the 2017 Kia Picanto is expected to ride on a new platform. In this regard, the Picanto could gain the 1.0 T-GDI three-banger turbo from its bigger brother. The tried-and-tested 1.25-liter Kappa N/A inline-four is also expected to soldier on as the entry-level choice. Last, but certainly not least, it’s also likely that the third-generation Picanto will be available solely as a 5-door hatchback for added practicality and to keep production costs low.