It follows the design and functional idioms of its bigger Kia SUV brothers, but packages it all up inside something that’ll sit in the Ford Fiesta class of cars. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a cartoonish render of the all-new Kia Stonic.
Yup, Stonic. It is, according to Kia, an “eye-catching and confident compact crossover” (read: small SUV) that’s geared towards the more pimpled side of the car-buying demographic. And, as cartoonish renders go, it looks pretty fly. It’s familiarly Kia all round, while inside we’re told it’s been focused around tech and ergonomics. It may be small, but Kia promises great packaging for all occupants, while up front there’s a ‘floating’ screen that allows smartphone accessibility and so forth. No pictures of the inside have yet been revealed, so we’ll have to wait and see. Not too long though, because it’ll go on sale later this year in the UK. Engines? Again, no word, but considering its dimensions (it’s a B-segment car), expect ones similar to those fitted in the new Rio: a range of small units, ranging from 1.0-liter gasolines, through 1.25- and 1.4-liter versions with up to 100hp, and a few small diesels too. Oh, and about that personalization bit: Kia promises that this new Stonic will be the most customizable car it’s ever built, “both inside and out.” Which sounds fine, but please, just go easy on the options. The all-new Kia Rio has landed locally, and we're happy to say the fourth-generation of the Korean subcompact hatchback looks just as good as we'd hoped.
Philippine-spec units feature the same sharp appearance and refined aesthetics you saw when initial images of the car surfaced in September last year. First off you'll notice the company's redesigned Tiger Nose front grille flanked by sporty, new-look projector type headlights, below which are foglamps which have been moved outwards. The car is bigger overall, too, being 5mm wider and 15mm longer than its predecessor, but 5mm shorter. These changes combined with edgier character lines and a choice between athletic 15- or 17-inch alloy wheels endow the Rio with a cooler, more youthful vibe than the last-gen model. It's definitely sleek as far as hatches go, and we're digging it. Inside, local Rios carry dark, minimalist cabin designs, which carry over the increased dimensions from the exterior to provide a convenient, spacious environment. Like the outside, many of the changes we saw in international-spec units made their way here, save for the high-resolution touchscreen (make do with a 3.5-inch LCD). There's still a considerable amount of plastic, but its high-quality finish and the simple, modern design of components give off a great feel in line with its youthful exterior. We sat inside the cabin and found its seats to be comfortable, and its overall atmosphere cozy. Other things to note? Bluetooth connectivity, USB charging in the rear, and automatic climate control. The all-new Kia Rio will be available in four variants, all of which will run on a 1.4-liter engine capable of 99hp and 133Nm. They'll all come mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, but we're glad to see that the base variant comes with a six-speed manual. Below are the variants and prices: *Kia Rio SL MT – P735,000 *Kia Rio SL AT – P845,000 *Kia Rio DX – TBA *Kia Rio GL – P955,000 So far, the Rio has a good number of things going for it, headlined by great looks, a cozy interior, and a youthful new vibe. Let's hope it's as good to drive as it is to look at. Right before Christmas last year, Kia gave us our first glimpse at the all-new Picanto. Granted, it was only a sketch at the time, so there really wasn't too much to go on—but the revamped hatch's sportier appearance and edgier overall vibe was more than enough to have us eager for more.
Less than two weeks later, the Korean carmaker has finally released official images of the beloved city car's GT variant. The real thing stays true to the initial sketches, from the aggressive headlights down to the red trim and new-look front fascia. The vehicle is seen here in white, but the company says a range of vibrant paint jobs will be made available. The latest-generation's wheels are pushed out thanks to a wheelbase longer by 15mm, though the car retains its compact dimensions (it's still 3,595mm in length). The exterior's nice and all, but it's the interior which really has us foaming at the mouth. The car's cabin is absolutely gorgeous. Gone is the outdated head unit, replaced with a modern 'floating' touchscreen infotainment system. A/C vents have been rounded-out, and a redone trim and sleeker central console work together to convey a more premium feel. Other things of note include a simpler instrument cluster layout, and red stitching on the armrests, steering wheel and seats. Overall, it's a darker, sportier and more upscale look and we totally dig it. The all-new Picanto's official debut will take place at the Geneva International Motor Show in March. Kia says it will be packed with high-tech comfort, convenience and safety features, though we'd be happy if they manage to bring in even just the exact same look. Cross your fingers, guys. |
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July 2018
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