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Following on from the recent launch of the
all-new Picanto city car Kia is introducing a three-door version to the
line-up for the first time since the model appeared in 2004. The
distinctively styled three-door version, with a new range of trim
levels, will go on sale in the UK from 1st September.
The three-door Picanto has a unique,
sporty character while still managing to deliver the same, seemingly
contradictory, upgrades as the more family-focused five-door: stronger
performance with lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,
the safety and luxury features of a large car without an outrageous
price tag, and practicality within a compact package. If the five-door
Picanto is ‘the small car, grown up’, then the three-door is the same
but with a twinkle in its eye. |
Why we’ve created the
three-door
City-car sales – referred to as the
A-segment in Europe – are increasing all over the world as the costs of
buying and owning cars gets more prohibitive and many people are
downsizing.
Globally, the market for Picanto-sized
cars in 2014 will be around 2.4 million. By 2015 – well within the
second-generation Picanto’s life cycle – that will have grown to 3.3
million. Around a million of these will be three-door cars. Without a
three-door model, Kia would have nothing to offer 30% of buyers in one
of the most dynamic sectors of the market.
In the UK, the importance of the
three-door car is even more pronounced: the sales split between body
styles in the A-segment is a slender 55:45 in favour of five-door
models.
Two unique cars from one
central concept
The dimensions of the three- and
five-door Picanto are identical in order to ensure they enjoy the same
levels of interior space and crash safety. However, that simple
statement does not do justice to the wealth of detailed work undertaken
by Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer and his creative teams to ensure
the three-door has its own, unique character.
The changes are most obvious in
profile, where new doors, rear panels and glass aft of the A-pillar give
the three-door Picanto a fresh, dynamic appearance, accentuated by the
rising belt line that slices through the door handle on each side, and
the aerodynamically shaped side sill mouldings. Unique alloy wheels on
the upper two trim versions are other distinguishing features of the
three-door Picanto.
At the front and rear the three-door
Picanto reveals its own personality, too. The main grille opening is
larger than that on the five-door and is available with silver or red
trim surrounds. The front bumper has been re-profiled to make the car
appear wider and lower. It contains a slim, full-width lower grille,
housing large black-bezelled foglamps with the two upper trim grades.
The rear bumper has a rectangular black
central section in place of body colour, a relatively simple measure
that makes the three-door Picanto instantly appear sportier. The
finishing touch is created by exposed twin chromed exhaust outlets in
place of the hidden single tailpipe of the five-door car.
Efficiency across the range
The three-door Picanto offers brand-new
1.0- and 1.25-litre Kappa-family petrol engines, which deliver fuel
economy of up to 67.3mpg with CO2 emissions as low as 99g/km.
The larger engine is available with Kia’s EcoDynamics fuel-saving
technology – an Intelligent Stop & Go engine stop/start system – or,
alternatively, with automatic transmission.
The three-cylinder 1.0-litre unit
develops 68bhp and 95Nm of torque. The 1.25-litre four-cylinder engine
is offered in three guises, all developing 84bhp and 121Nm of torque. In
standard form it averages 60.1mpg. With a four-speed automatic
transmission fuel consumption is an impressive 53.3mpg. Finally, there
is the EcoDynamics version with fuel consumption at 65.7mpg.
The same new running gear developed for
the five-door Picanto also appears on the three-door. It features
MacPherson struts at the front and a coupled torsion beam axle at the
rear, a layout which gives the best combination of ride and handling
while minimising intrusions into passenger and luggage space.
The new set-up ensures the Picanto is
stable in a straight linear speed and supple over typical British bumps.
A stiff rear axle aids agility while also contributing to the car’s
impressive stability and comfort.
The new Picanto three-door
model range:
| Variant |
Power - bhp |
Torque – lb/ft |
CO2 |
Combined
mpg |
Price
(OTR) |
| 1.0 ‘1’ |
68 @ 6,200 rpm |
70 @ 3,500 rpm |
99 |
67.3 |
£7,795 |
| 1.0 ‘1 Air’ |
68 @ 6,200 rpm |
70 @ 3,500 rpm |
99 |
67.3 |
£8,395 |
| 1.25 ‘Halo’ EcoDynamics |
84 @ 6,000 rpm |
89 @ 4,000 rpm |
100 |
65.7 |
£11,695 |
| 1.25 ‘Halo’ Auto |
84 @ 6,000 rpm |
89 @ 4,000 rpm |
125 |
53.3 |
£12,295 |
| 1.25 Equinox |
84 @ 6,000 rpm |
89 @ 4,000 rpm |
109 |
60.1 |
£11,695 |
ABI Insurance Group Ratings are to be
confirmed.
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