ALL-NEW KIA RIO FIVE-DOOR STARS AT GENEVA

• Everything has changed but the name
• More power, more space, better ride, handling and fuel economy
• Three ´best-in-class´ high-power gasoline and diesel engines
• 110 ps 1.5 CRDi diesel with CO2 rating of just 116 g/km

 

• More power, more space, better ride, handling and fuel economy
• Three ´best-in-class´ high-power gasoline and diesel engines
• 110 ps 1.5 CRDi diesel with CO2 rating of just 116 g/km

 

Kia´s all-new Rio five-door hatchback made its world debut at the 75th Salon de L´Automobile in Geneva, Switzerland, today (Tuesday) when the Kia Motors Corporation pulled the wraps off its latest production model created especially with European consumers in mind.

Although Kia has retained the old name, New Rio is completely redesigned from the ground up to meet the current and future motoring needs of B-segment customers across the highly competitive European market.

"New Rio is designed and engineered to offer customers more space, more power, higher performance, better handling, a smoother ride and enhanced fuel economy," commented Kia Motors Senior Executive Vice President and COO, Mr Yong Hwan Kim. "New Rio is a ´next-generation´ Kia which builds on the enormous progress we have made in the last two years with the Sorento, Picanto, Cerato and new Sportage. New Rio is a high-quality rival to match or surpass the best B-Segment products from famous European brands."

The new Rio line-up will feature a total of 20 models, backed by a three year unlimited warranty, and customers can choose from two body styles (five-door hatchback and four-door sedan), three engines (including a sensational new 1.5-litre turbo diesel), manual or automatic transmission, two equipment levels (LX and EX), an extensive range of options and a selection of special ´option packs´.

Styling & Design
Starting from a fresh beginning, Kia designers set out to create a new model that was ´dynamic, youthful, aggressive, sporty and bold´, while encompassing the new Rio´s six core values - style, comfort, performance, safety, refinement and convenience - in an exciting and appropriate manner. Subsequent customer clinic results for the JB have indicated that the target audience (especially 20-to-30 year olds) perceived the new Kia as ´solid, strong and dynamic´.

Aerodynamically, the new Rio is highly efficient. As well as the overall proportions - deep front bumper, steeply raked windscreen, and sharply truncated tail (on the five-door) - close attention to detailing has paid dividends. The shaping of the entire nose, door mirrors, A-Pillars and upper door frames, plus tight panel fit, resulted in a drag coefficient of Cd 0.32.

Class-leading cabin space
Taller (+50 mm), wider (+15 mm) and shorter (-250 mm in five-door form) than the model it replaces, the new Rio has a much longer wheelbase (+90 mm) and much improved packaging to offer significantly more cabin space than its predecessor and more than most rivals. The skilful packaging also enables the Rio to be an ideally sized B-segment contender.

The generous interior dimensions are common to both the five-door and four-door Rios. The new model offers 1,005 mm of headroom at the front and 960 mm in the rear. Legroom is 1,085 mm (front) and 870 mm for rear seat occupants. Shoulder room is 1,360 mm for front seat occupants and 1,350 mm across the rear seat. Compared to the previous Kia Rio, these new model dimensions are increased by between 2 mm and 83 mm, even though the new five-door model is 250 mm shorter than the vehicle it replaces. New Rio´s interior dimensions make it clearly ´best-in-class´ for roominess.

Best-in-class high power engines
Unusually in modern times, the Kia Rio is a new model that also comes with three new or fully-revised engines, each delivering ´best-in-class´ power outputs - up to 36% more than rivals. Kia´s all-new 1.5 CRDi diesel engine features common-rail technology and a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT). This new unit produces 110 ps (most rivals have 75 ps or less), and 22.0 kgm of torque at just 2,000 rpm. It has a CO2 rating of just 116 g/km and meets Euro 4 emissions criteria.

For customers who prefer gasoline, two 16-valve engines are available. The 1.6 brings continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) to the B-Segment of the market in a Kia for the first time. It produces 112 ps at 6,000 rpm and 14.9 kgm of torque at 4,500 rpm. The all-new 1.4-litre engine will make its world premiere in the new Rio. This unit generates 97 ps at 6,000 rpm and 12.8 kgm of torque at 4,700 rpm.

Better handling with a safe, smooth ride
New Rio is fitted with a modern suspension system designed to deliver responsive handling and a supple, comfortable ride on European roads. Front McPherson Struts and a rear transverse torsion beam axle deliver optimal handling stability and a smooth ride. Anti-roll bars and gas-filled shock absorbers are standard fit both front and rear.

Every Rio has power-assisted rack and pinion steering and a small turning radius (less than 4.92 metres) for responsive, agile handling in city and country driving situations. The all-disc braking system has ventilated front and solid rear discs, to deliver secure and stable braking performance with consistent pedal feel. Four-channel ABS is standard fit for all models in Western Europe, with electronic brake force distribution (EBD).

Safety is a top priority for Kia and New Rio is well equipped to cope with everyday motoring hazards. A broad range of passive safety measures includes dual front airbags, while side airbags, curtain airbags and ´active´ head restraints are also available.

Top value, high quality equipment
Kia has a reputation for providing excellent value for money, plus a wide range of high quality equipment. New Rio enhances that tradition. The higher-specification EX model builds on the LX by adding numerous items, including: central locking, front and rear electric windows, height-adjustable driver´s seat with armrest, plus body colour door mirrors and door handles. To boost the comfort and convenience of their new Rio still more, customers can choose from a range of special ´option packs´ - Metal Grain, Chrome Pack, Power Pack, Colour Pack, Leather Pack and Sporty Pack.

Destined for sale success
"We designed the new Rio to meet the rising expectations of our European customers who expect more from Kia, with improved quality and a fresher appearance," enthused Jean-Charles Lievens, Vice President Kia Motors Europe. "We have created a superb compact car that is more stylish, more practical, more enjoyable to drive than its predecessor and comes with a 3 year warranty. Styled to attract image conscious, modern consumers, the New Rio hatchback is a car that perfectly matches Kia´s ´exciting and enabling´ brand aspirations."

The five-door hatchback and four-door sedan Kia Rio models, which will go on sale across Europe this spring, are destined to be immensely significant introductions for Kia into the hugely popular B-segment, the largest segment of the European market, and the most popular sub-section within it - five-door hatchbacks - which claimed a 48% segment share in 2004.

Kia is confident of achieving significant conquest sales with New Rio, selling 35,000 units during its first 12 months on the European market, as the brand attracts more and more customers to its expanding dealer network.

Editors Notes

Kia Motors Europe
Kia Motors Europe is the European sales, marketing, and service arm of Kia Motors Corporation. With its headquarters in Eschborn, Germany, it covers 20 markets in Europe. The European sales target is 300,000 units per year by 2005, thanks to new products and new diesel engines.

About Kia Motors Corporation
Kia Motors Corporation ( www.kiamotors.com ), which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2004, is among the world´s fastest growing automobile companies. Kia´s 15 manufacturing and assembly operations in 12 countries make more than one million vehicles each year. These vehicles are sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering 190 countries.

Founded in 1944, Kia Motors Corporation is Korea´s oldest manufacturer of automobiles. Kia today has 30,000 employees and annual revenues of US$ 12 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Tennis Open and the international sponsor of the Davis Cup.

Press Contacts

Dr Iris Kirschbaum
Tel 0049 6196 5092 132 Email i.kirschbaum@kia-europe.com
Tanja Hoppmann
Tel 0049 6196 5092 134 Email t.hoppmann@kia-europe.com

Kia Motors Europe GmbH
Hauptstrasse 185, 65760 Eschborn, Germany.
Tel.: +49 (6196) 509 2132 / Fax.: +49 (6196) 509 2100

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Kia Rio 2005 Hatchback

Body & Chassis
Five-seater, 5-door hatchback, with all-steel unitary body-chassis construction. Choice of three transversely-mounted engines driving the front wheels via five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Choice of LX or EX equipment/trim levels, plus wide range of options.

Engines
1.6 Gasoline
Type & Capacity	DOHC, four-cylinder, in-line, 1.6-litres, 1,599 cc
Max power / torque	112 ps @ 6,000 rpm / 14.9 kgm @ 4,500 rpm
Valve system	CVVT, 16 valves (2 intake, 2 exhaust per cylinder)
1.5 CRDi Diesel
Type & Capacity	DOHC, four-cylinder, in-line, 1.5-litres, 1,493cc
Max power / torque	110 ps @ 4,000 rpm / 22.0 kgm @ 2,000 rpm
Valve system	16 valves (2 intake, 2 exhaust per cylinder)
1.4 Gasoline
Type & Capacity	DOHC, four-cylinder, in-line, 1.4-litres, 1,399cc
Max power / torque	97 ps @ 6,000 rpm / 12.8 kgm @ 4,700 rpm
Valve system	16 valves (2 intake, 2 exhaust per cylinder)
Transmissions 1.6 1.5 CRDi 1.4	1.6	1.5 CRDi	1.4
Manual	5-sp	5-sp	5-sp
Automatic	4-sp	n/a	4-sp
Suspension
Front	Fully independent by McPherson Struts, with anti-roll bar.
Rear	Semi-independent by torsion beam axle.
Steering
Type	Power-assisted rack and pinion
Gearing	3.01 turns lock-to-lock, 4.92 metres turning radius
Brakes
Front	256 mm x 22 mm ventilated discs
Rear	262 mm x 10 mm solid discs, with ABS anti-lock and EBD
Wheels & Tyres
Standard	Steel, 14 x 5.0J inch		175/70 tyres
Optional	Steel or Alloy, 14 x 5.5J inch		185/65 tyres
	Alloy, 15 x 5.5J inch		195/55 tyres
Dimensions
Overall length	3,990 mm	Overall width	1,695 mm
Overall height	1,470 mm	Wheelbase	2,500 mm
Weights	1.6 (MT/AT)	1.5 CRDi (MT)	1.4 (MT/AT)
Curb weight / kg	1,079 / 1,101	1,146	1,079 / 1,101
Fuel Consumption (l/100 km)
Combined	6.5 / 6.6	tbc	6.3 / 6.3
CO2 rating, g/km	155 / 156	116	149 / 150
Fuel tank	45 litres	45 litres	45 litres
Emission class *	Euro 4	Euro 4	Euro 4
* in most European countries
Performance	1.6	1.5 CRDi	1.4(all manual transmission)
0 to 100 kph	10.2 sec	11.5 sec	12.3 sec
Top speed / kph	190	176	177

KME / 01.03.2005