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05-07-2011 at 10:00: When My Baby Smiles at Me We Go to Rio, Kia Rio

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.
.
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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