The arrival of a larger, better quality Kia Rio in September leaves space open in the sub-light arena for an underling to join the company's local range; that underling would be named Picanto.
While the new pint-sized offering is yet to be confirmed for sale in Australia, a spokesperson for Kia Australia did reveal that the company is in dialogue with head office in Seoul, and it’s now just a “matter of timing”.
It’s not the first occasion Kia Australia has expressed an interest in the 3.6 metre-long model, with the Korean marque telling motoring.com.au at this year’s Geneva Motor Show it was actively seeking the model to fill the space beneath the Rio.
In Europe, Picanto is available with a range of drivetrain options, including a three-cylinder LPG/petrol, low capacity turbodiesel and 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol. A decision on just which model would best fit the Australian market is still quite a way off.
Locally, Picanto would rival the likes of Suzuki Alto and Chery J1, and could be priced from $11,990.
Kia Australia was tight-lipped on its schedule for Picanto, although the second-half of 2012 was suggested as the most favourable outcome.
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