Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/542972
44 maltatoday, Sunday, 19 July 2015 Motoring Kia Rio's makeover gives exterior and cabin a fresh appearance Kia's celebration of the en- hanced Rio features a number of improvements to maintain the competitiveness of its global best-selling car. "The Kia Rio was our best- selling vehicle nameplate worldwide in 2013, with a to- tal of 471,000 sales, and among our top-three sellers in Europe with 56,821 units delivered. Im- provements to this model are of major significance for our brand," commented Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe. "The immense popularity of the Rio shows that our design- ers and engineers got most things right when creating the fourth-generation of our com- pact B-segment challenger in 2011. The Rio retains the core attributes that have proved so popular with owners, while en- hancements to the 2014 model include a slight visual makeover, giving it a fresh exterior and in- terior look," added Cole. Under the direction of Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Kia Motors Corporation, the Rio design team in Korea has updated the Rio's 'tiger-nose grille' and given the car a newly-designed front bumper and fog lights. Three new alloy wheel designs (avail- able in 15-, 16- and 17-inch) refresh the Rio's profile and a new rear bumper completes the exterior makeover. In addition, two new paint finishes (Urban Blue and Digital Yellow) will be added to the colour line-up. The Rio's cabin is brightened by the addition of chrome ac- cents around the four dash- board air-vents, and the fitting of a newly-designed center- stack around the audio system. The base model LX is available in black cloth upholstery, while the range-topping EX models come with leather as standard. The enhanced Rio is being offered with a choice of three highly efficient engines – rang- ing in power output from 74 to 107 ps – driving the front wheels via five- or six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmis- sions. Every engine in the enhanced Rio range is available with Kia's upgraded starter motor, as well as the fitment of low-rolling re- sistance tyres. The enhanced model is sold with the usual Kia's unique 7-Year warranty for complete peace of mind. The new Kia Rio can be yours from only €13,900 and is avail- able for a free test-drive at Cars International, Mdina Road, Qormi. For more information or to book your test-drive, send an email to kiasales@cil.com. mt, call on 2269 2000 or visit the website w w w.kia.com/mt or Facebook page Kia Motors Malta. Kia outshines the market with an updated Picanto Motors Europe unveiled the en- hanced Kia Picanto at the 85th Sa- lon International de l'Automobile in Geneva last March. Kia's styl- ish A-segment city hatchback features a range of dynamic and visual improvements to maintain its competitiveness. The enhanced Kia Picanto boasts redesigned front and rear bumpers to enhance the car's bold looks, as well as updates to Kia's hallmark 'tiger-nose' grille. Buyers can now choose a new, optional 14-inch alloy wheel de- sign. The inclusion of another optional sport pack makes the upgraded car stand out as one of the best-looking vehicles in the A-segment, in both three- and five-door variants. Inside, the Picanto can be up- graded to the EX model which comes with new chrome accents surrounding the driver's instru- ment binnacle and dashboard air vents, and a new cloth upholstery pattern boosts the car's youthful appeal. At the center of the dash- board, a more modern fascia now surrounds the Picanto's audio system. The upgraded Picanto has re- ceived a series of small modifica- tions to its 1.0-litre MPI (Multi- Point Injection) engine, ensuring the car meets strict Euro 6 emis- sions standards. The Picanto is among the brand's best-selling models in Europe, with 51,102 units sold in 2014. The enhanced model is sold with the usual Kia's unique 7-Year warranty for complete peace of mind. The new Kia Picanto can be yours from only €9,395 and is available for a free test-drive at Cars International, Mdina Road, Qormi. For more information or to book your test-drive, send an email to kiasales@cil.com.mt, call on 2269 2000 or visit the website www.kia.com/mt or Fa- cebook page Kia Motors Malta.