Next-gen Rio revealed in official photos

Kia has released official photos of the 2011 Rio, providing the first glimpse of the new baby ahead of its worldwide launch next month.

The new Rio, which is scheduled for local launch later this year, will be unveiled alongside the new -- and even smaller -- Picanto, a car rumoured to be under consideration for Australia.

Kia plans to offer the Rio in three body styles: three-door and five-door hatch or four-door sedan. There's no word as to whether we'll see the sedan make it to Australia, given the local market's traditional love affair with hatchbacks.

While the new Rio scores the 'Schreyer' grille, it's more organic in the use of swage lines than the current model -- or the larger Cerato for that matter -- and the footprint is very much from the school of 'wheel in each corner'. Kia's press information accompanying the pics also draws attention to the new car's body-to-glass ratio and wedge shape lending the Rio a "sporty stance".

55mm longer overall, the new Rio sits on a wheelbase longer still by 70mm (for 2570mm all up). The Rio is 25mm wider and 15mm lower than the current model too. Kia claims the luggage capacity of the new model is 292 litres (hatch) or 390 litres (sedan)

Consumers in European markets will be able to choose between a 1.1-litre diesel (52kW) and a 1.2-litre turbocharged and direct-injected petrol engine (GDI). The GDI engine won't be introduced before 2012. For North America, the Rio will be powered by a 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated GDI engine developing 103kW of power.

"This new model is a big step forward," said Soon-Nam Lee, Director of Overseas Marketing for Kia. "The Rio has always been successful, and with this new incarnation we have a car which is extremely attractive, that people will want to buy for its looks."

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