Big three on cusp for Kia

Kia is set to change the face of its brand Down Under with the launch of three key new models between now and May 2011.

A new medium car, a five-door hatch version of the Cerato and an all-new unique-to-Kia Rio light car will head a sales ramp-up for the brand. They will join the new Sportage and Sorento SUVs (and the Cerato sedan and carryover models) to position the Korean brand to increase its sales from around 25,000 units this year to more than 30,000 cars. At least that's the aim of Kia Motors Australia chief MK Kim

Kim told the Carsales Network at this week's launch of the Sportage compact SUV in New Zealand that his 2011 target was dependent on a strong performance from the trio of new models -- especially the hatchback Cerato and Rio. The Magentis-replacing Optima medium car will be more of an opinion leader for the brand rather than outright sales winner, Kim says.

Both the Cerato hatch (pictured) and Optima will make their local debut at the Australian International Motor Show at Darling Harbour in October. The Cerato five-door will go on sale the same time, though the Optima will not arrive in dealer showrooms until late December or early January.

Based on the same platform as Hyundai's i45, the Optima (pictured) features perhaps the most aggressive interpretation of Kia's new corporate styling direction yet.

It will be powered by the same direct-injected 2.4-litre petrol engine as featured in the Hyundai. Kia insiders are hopeful, however, that they may be able to gain early access to the corporation's turbocharged 2.4-litre engine. Capable of producing close to 200kW, the powerplant has been ruled out for the i45 to date.

It's the new Rio light car that will help secure the majority of Kia's volume increase, however. And despite reports to the contrary, Kia insiders now state the car is not simply a rebodied i20, but rather a new car in its own right.

An evolution of the structure that sits under the current JB series Rio with some i20 input, the new UB Rio is a "next-generatioin B segment car" says Kia's US-based lead designer Massimo Frascella.

All three cars will benefit from local suspension testing and tuning, says Kim.

And Kia's rate of model renewal is unlikely to relax over the next two-three years. Though introduced in current form in 2009, Kia insiders say the Cerato family will be replaced by an all-new car as early as 2012. Such a move would see the upcoming hatch on sale for less than two years. Five-door hatch, two-door coupe and four-door sedan will all be renewed at the changeover says Kia insiders.

Part of the reason for such a rapid turnover is the equally rapid pace of change in powertrain and ancillary systems. Kia insiders say the next generation Cerato will feature high-tech low-displacement turbo engines in line with moves by European manufacturers.

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