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Making its world premiere today at the at the Seoul Motor Show, is Kia’s Naimo electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV), a B-segment sized concept car that will serve as a test-bed for the company's EV technology. Penned by Kia's international design team in Seoul, the car takes its name from the Korean word “Ne-mo”, which is pronounced ‘Neh-mo’ and means ‘square shape.
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However, it is expected that the Soul will take some cues from the new Picanto and Rio hatchbacks (both of which were revealed at the Geneva Motor Show) such as the pulled back headlamps and more pronounced bumpers. An interior rework may also be in the cards.
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The sleek looking sedan which is already on sale in South Korea as the K-7, is longer and wider than the Amanti it will replace. It is expected to be revealed this year in U.S.-spec with sales to follow before the end of 2011. In its home market, the K7/Cadenza is offered with three gasoline engines ranging in output from 165HP for the four-cylinder unit to 295HP for the 3.5 liter V6.
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Kia insists on not holding back any punches with its new lineup, and its fourth-gen Rio is no different. The new Rio is lower, longer, and wider, and looks all the better for it. With the added dimensions come more passenger space, more comfort, and more storage capacity. Don't worry, as Kia will offer a variety of engines and transmissions to suit your needs. Scroll on down for the all-informative spreadsheet.
One neat optional feature is the Emergency Stop Signal, which flashes the brake lights thrice to let drivers behind the vehicle know there's sudden braking to be had ahead.
Really, this car is Kia front to back, inside and out. Featuring Kia's trademark Tiger face and a distinctly "Kia" roof line, this B-segment contender can't be confused for anything else in the parking lot. Inside, you'll find a familiar Kia Rio interior but updated to fit into the new Kia family.
Buyers can also expect to see a very modern selection of options and add-on such as iPod/USB ports, Bluetooth, heated seats, LED running lights, and automatic stop/start.
The new Rio model is longer (by 20 mm), wider (by 25 mm), and lower (by -15 mm) and features a wheelbase extended by 70 mm (to 2,570 mm), thus promising to offer improved passenger space and cargo capacity (+7% at 280 liters) over the previous model. Notably, it will also be available for the first time in both 3-door (in Europe) and 5-door body styles.
In Europe, the new Rio will offer customers a choice of three- and four-cylinder engines with outputs ranging from 70-to-109HP, a CO2 rating as low as 85 g/km, plus fuel consumption as low as 3.2 lt per 100 km (73.5 mpg US).
Diesel options include a 1.1-liter with 70HP and 162Nm, and a 1.4-liter with 90HP and 216Nm of peak torque. The gasoline lineup comprises of a 1.4-liter with 109HP and 136Nm that powers the fastest Rio from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 11.5" and on to a top speed of 181 km/h (112mph), and a 1.25-liter unit producing 85HP and 118Nm with a combined fuel economy of 4.8lt/100km (49mpg US).
The regular Rio models will have a CO2 rating of 94-to-124 g/km, but in Europe, these figures can be further reduced by specifying Kia’s optional fuel-stretching ISG technologies (automatic stop-start, advanced alternator control, upgraded starter motor and low-rolling resistance tires), which is available on all models. Equipped with Kia's ISG, emissions will range from 85-to-114 g/km, and fuel economy from 3.2 to 4.8 lt per 100 km.
Standard transmission for both diesels and the larger gasoline engine will be a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.25-litre 85HP engine has a five-speed box. A four-speed automatic gearbox will be available as an option on the 1.4-litre 109HP.
The 2012 Kia Picanto mini made its global premiere alongside the also new Rio supermini at the Geneva Motor Show today. The South Korean firm's city car will be offered for the first time with a choice of 5-door and 3-door body styles, with Kia officials expecting the new three-door model to account for 33% of Picanto sales.
Like all recent Kia models, the new Picanto benefits from a far more expressive design inside and out compared to its predecessor. It also promises to offer more space inside as the overall vehicle length has increased by 60 mm, and the wheelbase has grown by 15 mm. These increases, along with the enhanced interior packaging, offer an additional 36mm legroom for the front passengers while trunk capacity has increased by 27 per cent to 200 liters.
Another novelty for the Picanto is the availability of eight different packages for the interior including two environment colors – ebony black and alpine gray, four different cloth options and two additional ‘premium’ trim packages.
In Europe, the Picanto will be offered with a 1.25-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 85HP and 121Nm of peak torque, and a 1.0-liter three-cylinder unit available in gasoline only (69HP and 95Nm) and LPG / Gasoline Bi-fuel (82HP and 94Nm) versions. The Bi-fuel model features a 35-liter LPG tank and a 10-liter gasoline tank, allowing owners to drive up to 150 km (93 miles) after the LPG has been used up.
All engines come with a standard 5-speed manual, while a 4-speed automatic transmission will be available as an option on the 1.25-liter 85HP engine.
Regular models in the new Picanto line-up will have a CO2 rating of 95 to 105 g/km, while fuel economy will range from 4.2 to 5.9 lt per 100 km (39.9 - 55.6 mpg US).
As with the Rio, all 2012 Picanto models wil also be available with Kia’s fuel-stretching Eco-Dynamics technologies (automatic stop-start – ISG, advanced alternator control, upgraded starter motor and low-rolling resistance tyres), cutting emissions to between 90 and 100 g/km and improving fuel economy to a range of 4.1 to 5.6 lt per 100 km (42.0 - 57.4 mpg US).
