Kia Motors has issued the following press release:
Kia Motors Corporation has revealed early details of its latest production model, the all-new Kia Rio five-door hatchback, which will make its World Premiere in Europe at the 75th Salon de L’Automobile in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 1, 2005.
“Our new Rio is completely redesigned from the ground up, created especially with our European customers in mind. The new Rio offers customers more space, more power, higher performance, better handling, a smoother ride and enhanced fuel economy,” said Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Mr. Yong Hwan Kim. — Hyundai's latest SUV naming announcement.
Further setting itself apart from competitors, the Rio is an all-new model that also comes with three new engines (depending on country/region). Two gasoline engines and one high-performance diesel will offer customers æbest-in-classÆ power outputs that will make Kia a leader in the segment. The new Rio is the third Kia passenger car to be available with a diesel engine.
Styled to attract image conscious modern consumers, the sub-4 meter new Rio hatchback is a car that perfectly matches Kia’s “exciting and enabling” brand aspirations, while the longer 4.2-meter sedan (launched at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year) has an elegant and distinctive notchback profile. — Citroën's China-specific C-Triomphe.
Taller, wider and shorter than the model it replaces, the new Rio has a much longer wheelbase and much improved packaging to offer significantly more cabin space than its predecessor. The new Rio line-up will feature a total of 20 models, and customers can choose from two body styles, manual or automatic transmission, two equipment levels and an extensive range of option packages.
“We designed the new Rio to meet the rising expectations of our European customers who expect more from Kia, with improved quality and a fresher appearance,” enthuses Jean-Charles Lievens, Vice President of Kia Motors Europe. ’We have created a superb compact car that is more stylish, more practical and more enjoyable to drive than its predecessor. It is a “new generation” Kia which builds on the enormous progress we have made in the last two years with the Sorento, Picanto, Cerato and new Sportage,- he added. — Honda's Chinese manufacturing expansion.
The five-door hatchback and four-door sedan Kia Rio models will go on sale across Europe this summer and are destined to be immensely significant introductions for Kia into the B-segment, the most popular segment of the European market.
