The new fourth generation Kia Rio is set and ready to make it’s world debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month. Design changes made both to the exterior and interior were led by Kia’s design centres in Germany and California, in close collaboration with the manufacturers global design headquarters in Namyang, Korea.
Starting at the front, exterior alterations include a thinner and wider ‘tiger-nose’ grille as well as more narrow and sculpted bi-function headlamps with a new U-shaped LED light signature. These changes aid in creating a more distinctive and stable look. This is enhanced by the new Rio being 5mm wider than it’s predecessor.
Looking at the Rio’s newly designed profile, you will notice and long bonnet, a longer front overhang and 10mm added to the wheelbase length. A thinner and more upright C-pillar and a shorter rear overhang also feature. The new Kia Rio is also 15mm longer than before and sits 5mm closer to the ground, making for a bold and assured stance. Defined lines also stretch down the length of the car.
Moving round to the back of the car, the rear windscreen is now almost vertical and has also been given a shorter overhang. A line running from the grille finds its way to the back of the car to meet the more sculptured rear headlights. Kia say that as with the front of the car, the rear also aims to give a stronger appearance.
Looking inside, the Kia Rio offers a more shaped and ergonomic cabin than before for its occupants. Bringing the exterior design ideology to the interior, lines run the width of the dashboard to give the cabin a wider appearance. The dashboard is angled towards the driver and centred sits a ‘floating’ HMI (human-machine interface), featuring a high resolution touchscreen display which enables access to the Rio’s audio, navigation and connectivity systems. The HMI also means less physical buttons sit on the centre console, for a more clean and contemporary design.
The new Rio is available with a choice of either black or grey cloth upholstery or faux leather in the same colour options. However, if customers opt for the ‘Red Pack’, they will receive black with red faux leather seats throughout.
The Kia Rio is the manufacturers best selling car globally, with 473,000 units sold in 2015 and will be hoping for more of the same success with this fourth-gen model. We will get our first proper look at the new Kia Rio on 29 September in Paris, before production begins towards the end of 2016.
