Revolutionary new Rio family sedan to power Kia sales boom
Kia’s all-new, fourth-generation Rio, which made its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, is set to spark a revolution in the compact car segment and power a boom in the growth of Kia sales. New Rio boasts a bold and distinctive personality, bringing the latest B-segment model smartly into line with the rest of Kia’s strikingly modern, design-led product range.
Tasked with the difficult job of improving upon the remarkable international commercial success of the previous generation Rio model, Kia’s engineers and designers have created a new Rio family of models which combine European finesse with Korean spice to create a language that also communicates Latin flair – for a truly global appeal.
In addition to appealing to consumers’ aesthetic tastes, the new Kia Rio will spearhead the company’s efforts to significantly grow its market share across the globe by offering potential owners highly competitive environmental credentials. CO2 emissions for the model range start at just 129 g/km – confirming that the B-segment Rio is highly competitive compared with other models in its class.
“The new Kia Rio model is a revolution, not an evolution from its predecessor. Rio has always been a commercial success and with this new addition to the range we now have a car which is extremely attractive with a fresh feeling of sportiness, which is also suitable for family life – a sedan that people will want to buy for its new looks, as well as for its new premium feeling, generous features and interior space,” comments Ray Levin, CEO, Kia Motors South Africa.
Kia’s market research predicts that demand for B-segment cars is going to grow significantly over the next two years as more consumers shift to more economical, more fuel-efficient cars – downsizing to offset the continuous rise in fuel prices.
“With the already popular Soul and new Rio models in 5-door form, the new Rio 4-door’s style will appeal to people who want to stand out from the crowd or need a spacious and versatile compact car – Kia is confident of capturing a much larger share of this growing market segment,” adds Mr Levin.
The new Rio sedan will be sold with the option of two petrol engines (1.25 and 1.4 litres) and three trim levels (1.2, 1.4 and 1.4 TEC). It is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor and features a wheelbase extended by 70 mm – greatly enhancing passenger space and cargo capacity. With an overall height of 1,455 mm, new Rio is one of the lowest cars in Kia’s global product range.
To lower fuel consumption and help achieve Rio’s class-leading emissions, Kia engineers have carried out an extensive programme to shed weight across a broad range of components. As a result, although new Rio Sedan is a significantly larger car than the third-generation model it replaces, with extra equipment, its weight-gain has been kept to a minimum.
More about the KIA RIO
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– Revolutionary new Rio family sedan to power Kia sales boom
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– A sporty and stylish new sedan
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– Bespoke feel for sophisticated and spacious interior
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KIA RIO Engines & Transmissions
– Two highly efficient petrol engines with 65 and 79 kW outputs
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– Improved stability, smoother ride and enhanced refinement
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– Comprehensive active and passive safety systems
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KIA RIO Standard Equipment and Technical Specifications
– Technical details for the complete model line-up
