Kia Australia has taken the covers of the fourth-generation Rio at the 2011 AIMS. The Rio was unveiled in an exciting song and dance performance with Dancing with the Stars judge Todd McKenney and an array of dancers.
Although all the focus was on the new Rio, Glenn Ridge, AIMS media presenter for 2011, made fun of McKenney saying he did not smile enough and gave the dance a 3 out of 10.
All jokes aside the new Rio is tasked with the difficult job of improving upon remarkable international sales success of the previous generation model.
“The Kia Rio has always been successful, and with this new incarnation we have a car which is extremely attractive with a fresh feeling of sportiness – a car that people will want to buy for its looks, as well as its environmental credentials,” said Kia Motors Australia CEO MK Kim.
“The new Rio also sets a packaging benchmark in the light passenger vehicle category with the availability of LED daytime running lights and 17 inch alloy wheels fitted with a low profile, Continental.”
The new Rio is longer, wider and lower ( 55mm, 25mm, 15mm respectively) than the previous model with an extended wheelbase of 70mm which helps to enhance cabin space.
The forth-gen offers for the first time a choice of 3, 4 and 5-door bodystyles. The 5-door Hatchback is the first body shape to be launched in Australia late in the 3rd quarter of 2011. The 3- & 4-door variants will hit Australian roads in early 2012.
The 5-door Hatch will be mated to either a 1.4-litre MPI 4-cylinder petrol powerplant with DOHC and CVVT that produces 79kW of power at 6300rpm and 135Nm of torque at 4200rpm or a larger 1.6-litre Gamma GDi petrol engine. The GDi is the smallest Kia engine yet to benefit from the application of Gasoline Direct Injection technology.
With the help of GDi, this four-cylinder powermill develops 103kW at 6300rpm and 167Nm at 4850rpm, a 13 percent improvement over a conventional Gamma 1.6-litre fed by MPI (Multi-Point Injection). GDi technology doesn’t only boost power output, it also improves fuel economy while lowering emissions.
The new Gamma also features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing, a Variable Induction System and exotic anti-friction coatings such as CrN Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating and Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating.
Target CO2 emissions for the model range start at just 133 g/km making it a top-15 contender in the government’s Green Vehicle Guide.
The Rio shows its connection with the Sportage, too, through strong and stable rear, coupe-like roof-line and dominant high shoulder. The balance of glass-house, wheelbase and overall proportion give Rio a refined and premium presence.
To complement the striking exterior, Rio’s interior design has also been transformed, with a clean sophisticated theme. The concept follows the corporate Kia interior philosophy with the characteristic horizontal instrument panel, accentuating the feeling of width and space.
Features available on new Rio cars include, radio CD player with MP3 compatibility plus AUX, iPod and USB connections, Bluetooth® handsfree, cruise-control and climate-control air-conditioning.
Like the Sorento, Cerato, Sportage and Optima before it, the New Rio’s suspension and running gear has benefited from a stringent program of local optimisation. The Ride and Handling Dynamic Program included comprehensive local testing and fine-tuning to ensure responsive handling while maintaining stability, ride quality and refinement – in line with the discerning Australian customer’s expectations.
The electric power-assisted rack and pinion steering, MacPherson strut front suspension and the CTBA (coupled torsion beam axle) at the rear combine to deliver a more commanding ride. An all-disc braking system is optimised by the addition of the latest VSM (Vehicle Stability Management) system, which combines ESC (electronic stability control), ABS anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and emergency ‘brake assist’ systems with HAC (hillstart assist control.
Offering six airbags (front, side and curtain) offer protection to occupants in the event of an accident while night time driving is made safer by the availability of projection headlamps, new front ‘cornering’ lamps.
The all-new Rio 5-Door Hatch will go on-sale late 3rd quarter 2011 in three specification levels. The final specification line-up and pricing to be announced at the National Media launch.
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Photos by Jason Sharman
FEATURES LIST
Standard Equipment
15-inch steel wheel with 185/65 R15 tyre
Full size spare
MDPS (Electric Power Steering)
Tilt & telescopic steering wheel adjustment
6 airbags (dual front , front side & curtain)
ESC with 4-wheel disc brake
Vehicle Stability Management with Hill-start Assist Control
Seatbelt reminders (all positions)
Body colour outside mirrors and door handles
Rear spoiler
Chrome signature grille
Electric heated outside mirrors
Driver and passenger vanity mirrors
60:40 split rear folding seat
Trip computer (4 function)
Front wiper – variable intermittent, with aero blade wiper
Manual air conditioning
Front power & rear windows
Audio unit (CD, radio & USB/AUX/iPod connectivity) with 4 speakers
Audio remote controls
Bluetooth (remote steering wheel controls)
Available Equipment
16-inch alloy wheel with 195/55 R16 Tyre
17-inch alloy wheel with 205/45 R17 Tyre (Continental)
Front fog lamps
Supervision cluster with dot-matrix display
Auto cruise control with steering wheel remote controls
LED Day-time Running Lights
LED rear combination lamps
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Engines / Gasoline
1.4-litre 79kW
Type / capacity MPi Petrol DOHC, four-cylinder, dual CVVT / 1,396cc
Power / torque 79 kW @ 6,300 rpm / 135Nm @ 4,200 rpm
1.6-litre 103kW
Type / capacity GDi Petrol DOHC, four-cylinder, dual CVVT / 1,591cc
Power / torque 103 kW @ 6,300 rpm / 167 Nm @ 4,850 rpm
Transmissions
1.4
1.6
Manual / speeds
6
6
Automatic / speeds
4
6
Brakes S / Si SLi
Front 256 x 22mm vent. discs 280 x 22mm vent. discs
Rear 262 x 10mm solid discs 262 x 10mm solid discs
Wheels & Tyres
Standard
15 in x 5.5J 185/65 R15 tyres
16 in x 6.0J 195/55 R16 tyres
17 in x 6.5J 205/45 R17 tyres
Capacities
Fuel tank (litres) 43.0
Luggage (VDA) 288 litres
Performance*
1.4 (MT)
1.4(AT)
1.6 (MT)
1.6 (AT)
Top speed / km/h
183
170
190
190
0-to-100 km/h / sec
11.5
13.2
10.2
10.3
Economy*/**
1.4 (MT)
1.4(AT)
1.6 (MT)
1.6 (AT)
Litres / 100 km
5.7
6.3
5.6
6.1
CO2 emissions
135
150
133
143
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