Kia renders its next Picanto

Kia has released the first three official images of its all-new Picanto city-car ahead of its global premiere early next year.

The third-generation Picanto, a front-end image and spy video of which were published by a Kia fan site in October, is expected on sale in Australia by mid-2017.

By then the second-generation Picanto – and the first to be sold here – will be little more than a year old Down Under, where the Korean car-maker's smallest model was released in April this year -- five years after it originally went on sale in places like Europe.

No details have been revealed about the new A-segment contender, which will bring far more aggressive styling than the model it replaces, but Kia says it will be better packaged and even more efficient.

"The new Picanto combines a youthful and energetic new exterior and interior design with greater potential for customer personalization, inside and out," said Hyundai's sister brand.

"Retaining its characteristically compact dimensions, the new Picanto conveys a more assertive stance through bolder body lines and a vibrant colour palette.

"Inside, the car’s suite of high-tech comfort, convenience and safety features is underscored by a modern and refined new cabin design, with smarter packaging efficiency than ever before."

Priced from $14,990 drive-away with an automatic transmission, the current Picanto is powered by a 63kW/120Nm 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is expected to carry over into the new model.

Topping the range could be the 77kW/172Nm 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder that delivers 88kW when matched with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic in the new Rio, which goes on sale here in January.

Next year will be a busy one for new model launches from Kia. Apart from the new Picanto micro-car and Rio light-car, Kia will release its first (as-yet-unseen) small SUV and its first rear-wheel drive sports sedan – the twin-turbo V6-powered Stinger GT – in the third quarter.