NEW YORK AUTO SHOW: Kia's product party turns to Rio

Kia revealed a Rio double act at the New York International Auto Show this week, and both deserve plenty of attention.

The brand's small car will become available locally in sedan form early next year, but in the meantime segment shoppers won't be disappointed in the update for the five-door hatchback -- first shown at this year's Geneva motor show -- which is expected in showrooms during September.

Latest Rio boasts equipment and updates akin to its impressive bigger brother, the Optima, such as six-speed automatic transmission, push-button start and satellite radio.

The sedan version also looks like the midsize Optima, having a conventional four-door profile complete with distinct boot unlike some of the stubbier offerings in the class like the Ford Fiesta sedan.

The version displayed at the New York show was complete with features usually resigned to cars in the next -- medium and up -- segments. The top-spec Rio shown had front passenger seat heating and satellite radio, LED daytime-running lights, 17-inch wheels, sat-nav and even a good-sized sunroof.

Stateside the Rio will start at around $13,000 but don't expect Kia Motors Australia to offer quite the same deal. For a start, that price excludes charges like delivery and taxes, and Kia can sell over 10,000 Rio models a month in the USA...

And don't expect the same spec offerings. Chances of satellite radio are a way off -- not any fault of the local Kia outfit -- and features like heated seats aren't usually in high demand among buyers in the price-prone small car segment; especially considering Australia's relatively mild climate.

What will arrive is the latest in Kia-slash-Hyundai's development in direct injection engine technology, by way of a decent 1.6-litre unit. Figures at this stage read at 100kW/166Nm for as low as 5.8L/100km but stay tuned for a more indicative result pertaining to our roads.

The engine combines a stop/start function to help efficiency figures. In its segment, only prestige brands like Volvo for C30 offer the same technology.

Spokesman for Kia's local outfit Kevin Hepworth anticipates the feature will also be offered for Australia-bound Rio models come September onwards. If so, the Rio stands to become the most advanced offering in its segment.

Other features like voice-activated connectivity for Bluetooth -- already offered by the likes of Ford for its Fiesta -- have yet to be confirmed. Details will be released at the hatch's launch in September.

Also in line for local showrooms is the three-door Rio which is scheduled for an appearance at the Frankfurt motor show.

That makes three body types for the new Rio in Australia, with the five-door hatch expected September; the sedan for January next year and the three-door hatch scheduled for late 2012.

Kia Australia intends offering the same specification levels -- three trims -- as the previous Rio. Count on all being more expensive on starting price as the Rio is now larger and better equipped.

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