Kia South Africa this week introduces the new Picanto to the South African market with an updated exterior design, range of new colour options, and even better value proposition. The introduction also sees the Picanto range repositioned in the competitive A-segment of the market, where its established quality and reliability is enhanced by an even greater value proposition.
“The Picanto is undoubtedly a mainstay in the Kia product line-up and has for many years been recognised by industry experts and members of the press alike as one of the best cars you can buy in the entry-level A-segment,” comments Gary Scott, CEO, Kia South Africa. “In fact, with more than 100,000 units sold since the very first generation was introduced locally in 2004, it’s safe to say that the Picanto is just about everyone’s favourite Kia. The new model builds on a remarkable legacy and sets the range up for even bigger successes as it embraces the notion of always moving forward.”
A new design. The same reliability.
The new Picanto’s exterior design is inspired by Kia’s award-winning ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, which harnesses the creative tension generated by the divergent values of nature and modernity to deliver a harmonious whole. The result creates a bold and futuristic impression with a modern and sporty design.
At the front, the new Picanto gains a new light signature, a new front bumper, an updated iteration of Kia’s signature ‘tiger nose’ grille, and a revised fender and bonnet, all combining to create a significantly enhanced, dramatic new visage that assists in giving Picanto a wide, confident stance. At the rear, this sporty, wide stance is reiterated through redesigned taillights that are horizontally connected just beneath the rear windscreen, giving Picanto a new rear light signature that complements the redesigned rear bumper.
These changes have not made any impact on the Picanto’s dimensions: it retains a height of 1,495 mm, length of 3,595 mm and width of 1,595 mm. Based on the intelligent engineering that underpins the Picanto, its platform maximises opportunity for a longer wheelbase (2,400 mm) and longer rear overhang, thereby freeing up more space in the cabin and boot. Despite the compact dimensions, Picanto still offers excellent leg- and headroom compared to many of its segment competitors. Ride comfort is ensured through a combination of a MacPherson strut set-up at the front and a coupled torsion beam axle at the rear.
Depending on the grade, three different wheel design options are available, ranging from 14-inch steel wheels with stylish covers to 14- and 15-inch alloy wheel options. As part of its refresh, a variety of updated colours are also available. Complementing perennial favourites like Clear White, Sparkling Silver metallic, Aurora Black Pearl, Astro Grey metallic and Signal Red, Picanto gains three new colour options in Sporty Blue metallic, Smoke Blue metallic and Adventurous Green metallic.
Inside, Picanto retains its high-quality, high-technology interior, with the familiar horizontal layout adding greater visual width to the interior. The centrally aligned dashboard retains the ‘floating’ 8-inch colour touchscreen as its main focal point, ensuring that many of the car’s controls are intuitively positioned to reduce instances of distracted driving. Black cloth-upholstered seats are standard, while higher specification models are fitted as standard with two-tone black and grey leather upholstery.
The new Kia Picanto retains the familiar, reliable 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engines the range is renowned for. Both engines feature improved exhaust gas recirculation lines and optimised intake valve timing. In addition, each engine provides improved combustion chamber cooling thanks to new improvements made in this field, in combination maximising efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.
The fuel-efficient 1.0 MPI three-cylinder engine produces 49 kW of power at 5,500 r/min and 95 Nm torque at 3,750 r/min, while the four-cylinder 1.25-litre engine develops 62 kW of power at 6,000 r/min and 122 Nm of torque at 4,000 r/min. Customers have a choice between a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. – Source: MotorPress
