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NEWS
Kia Picanto unlikely before 2015
Korean compact car, the Kia Picanto, is not coming to Australia for another two yearsKia Australia has crossed the Picanto sub-light car off its must-have list for the time being, deciding instead to wait until a new model makes its debut in late 2014.
Rivalling Nissan Micra and Mitsubishi Mirage, the Picanto would slot in below the Rio light car, which has grown in size and price since the new-look model arrived in September 2011. Rio has been gaining strong traction in the market since a previous report concerning the Picanto.
But citing an underperforming sub-light market and the imminent (in car development terms) arrival of a new model, Kia Australia's National Public Relations Manager Kevin Hepworth said the pint-sized Picanto is no longer a high priority for the brand.
"A new model (is) due towards the end of the next year," said Mr Hepworth. "That's one of the reasons why it's gone to the back burner."
Kia is perhaps mindful of not repeating Ford's strategy with the Kuga, which arrived in Australia late in its lifecycle in mid 2012, and is set to be replaced mid 2013 with an all-new model.
The Korean importer is also not convinced the sub-light car segment is turning over the numbers to see it make a solid business case for the Picanto, a car that would need to be priced below the entry-level three-door Rio hatch, which starts at $15,290.
Despite the Nissan Micra selling strongly in the sub-light segment with 9162 sales or 6.8 per cent of the light car market, and potential rivals like the Mitsubishi Mirage expected to perform strongly, Kia is not convinced the current Picanto can return the numbers it wants.
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Written byFeann Torr
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