Kia Picanto looking good for Australia
Importer now says its light car could add depth to local model rangeKia Motors Australia is building a business plan that could bring the latest version of the Picanto light car to Australia.
According to the company's national public relations manager Kevin Hepworth, Kia is "definitely considering" the new Picanto and is in the process of building a business plan that could see it being a natural extension of the range following the launch of the new Rio model in the second half of this year.
"We need to be in this (light) segment," Hepworth told the Carsales network.
The Suzuki Alto-size Picanto, which has not so far been sold in Australia, grows in stature and sophistication with the latest model.
Available as a sedan or five-door hatch, the car to be sold offshore will offer the choice of four all-new, three and four-cylinder super efficient "Kappa" engines with outputs ranging between 51kW and 63kW and CO2 ratings between 95g/km and 105g/km. Official fuel economy figures vary between 4.2L/100km and 5.9L/100km.
European versions will use the company's fuel-saving ISG technologies to reduce consumption and emissions even further -- to between 4.1L/100km and 5.6L/100km, and between 90g/km and 100g/km.
The three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine comes in petrol, flex fuel and bi-fuel form -- the latter producing 60kW/94Nm.
The new Picanto also comes with features such as LED daytime running lights, button-start, "smart" key and will be available, depending on the market in which it is sold, with six or seven airbags.
It appears the final decision on the Picanto for Australia will rest with Kia's Korean head office:"The work has been done at this end. We are currently in a holding pattern," Hepworth said.
CEO Tony Barlow said recently that the new Picanto would likely be on the agenda if it made sense as a business case. "We have been, and will continue, to look at opportunities in areas in which we do not currently compete," he told the Carsales Network in January this year.
It appears that, from this end, the business case adds up for Australia.
"Watch this space" Hepworth says.
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