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Geneva 2011: Kia Rio

2012 Kia Rio2012 Kia Rio2012 Kia Rio2012 Kia Rio2012 Kia Rio2012 Kia Rio
Kia’s PR mouth keeps shouting that the company has evolved and it now has much more to offer and bla-bla. These are all just words, you have to meet the cars to be convinced and the Geneva event is the perfect opportunity for this. We couldn’t just jump inside and take the vehicles for a quick test drive, but meeting them was a pleasant experience.

The Rio is the latest car to be revealed by Kia, boasting a bold and distinctive personality, bringing the newcomer in line with the rest of Kia’s striking design-led passenger car range,” stated the press release.

As we’ve already talked about the Picanto, we’d like to focus on the Rio now. The vehicle has grown, with the new dimensions offering a more generous interior size and extra luggage room. The wheelbase has been extended by 70 mm, the length has been increased by 55 mm, the width has been increased by 25 mm, while the car is 15 mm lower.

As for the interior, this promises to offer a premium feeling (for the B segment, we have to add) and allow customers to choose between multiple trim options.

The new Rio, will offer “an extensive range of fuel-efficient and low-CO2 petrol and diesel engines, depending on market”, with the list of units including a 1.1-litre diesel unit producing 70 hp and emitting 85 grams of CO2 per km, as well as an all-new 1.2-litre turbo Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) unit, which will be offered from 2012.

Kia will introduce the five-door version of the Rio this fall, with the three-door one scheduled to come early next year.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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