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Europe: Freshened Kia Picanto now on sale

Alex Nunez — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Kia

Click image for photo gallery

Europeans have a new supermini available to them in the updated Kia Picanto. The facelift transforms the Picanto from the anonymous basic transportation it was (see here), to a friendly looking little critter that you want to name like a Build-A-Bear. The facelift consists of new front and rear fascias as well as a spruced up interior. The new face is a definite improvement over the outgoing car, and shows that Kia's moving toward a familial look. The grille, for example, is very Rondo-like. Rounded headlights give it a happier face than the vehicle it replaces, and likewise, there are now circular elements incorporated into the taillamp lenses. The interior details also look pleasing enough in the attached photos, and the car even offers niceties such as Bluetooth and both USB and auxiliary jacks for iPods.

Our sister site, Autoblog Spanish, has the French pricing posted. €7,990 puts you in the 63 hp 1.0i. Tack on another €1000 for the moderately spunkier 1.1i 66 HP. The costliest Picantos are the diesels, which sell for €9,690 or €10,690 depending on trim package. Both gasoline engines are good for combined-cycle fuel economy over 40 US mpg.

[Source: Autoblog Spanish]

Gallery: 2007 Kia Picanto

Europe: Freshened Kia Picanto now on sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Updated 2007 Kia Picanto bound for Barcelona

John Neff — Fri, 25 May 2007 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Kia, Misc. Auto Shows

click above image for more angles of the 2007 Kia Picanto

The Kia Picanto is a small city car that's a big seller for the South Korean automaker. Though not sold in the U.S., the Picanto, which is based on the Hyundai Getz, is a hit in Europe and other export markets where teeny weeny autos are appreciated by the populace. Early next month, Kia will be debuting an updated Picanto at the Barcelona Motor Show in Spain. While far from all-new, the refreshed Picanto gets a more organic front end that reminds us a bit of the Hyundai Elantra that's sold in the U.S. The new front clip and rear bumper manage to grow the Picanto's overall length by 1.57 inches, but it's basically the same car underneath as before. The interior has also been upgraded, though it still appears to be chiseled from a giant block of hard plastic. Nevertheless, this new look has grown the Picanto from an awkward-looking city car into something that resembles a car even we Americans could excited about. After all, who doesn't love Lambo look-alike wheels on a micro mini?

You can rad Kia's official press release after the jump and check out the gallery by clicking below.

[Source: Kia]

Gallery: 2007 Kia Picanto

Continue reading Updated 2007 Kia Picanto bound for Barcelona

Updated 2007 Kia Picanto bound for Barcelona originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2007 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia plays Cupid in London

Alex Nunez — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Kia

Kia claims that 1 in 5 relationship breakups occur after a couple fights over one person's driving skills (or lack thereof). This gave rise to a little socio-marketing experiment by the company called Drive Dating, which involved sending 20 Kia Picantos, 20 single guys, and 20 single girls to the London Zoo for a four-wheeled take on speed dating. The idea was to see how compatible a couple was in the confines of an automobile before they began dating in earnest. (Also, it provided the perfect excuse to arrange 20 cars in the shape of a heart and release pictures of said arrangement to the media.)

Participants played musical cars, spending three minutes in the front seat with an eligible bachelor or bachelorette before moving onto another car and another potential love match. The automaker supplied mood music and icebreaker questions, but good looks, engaging personalities, and reasonable levels of personal hygeine were the sole responsibility of the Drive Daters. Once the participants each made a full circuit through the Picantos, Kia sent them to a bar for debriefing and an opportunity for potentially "interested" couples to pick up where they left off.

Another Drive Dating event is scheduled for this week, and Kia would like to make it a regular thing if it proves to be successful.

How Kia will determine that level of success is not known, but if participants start locking the doors, moving to the second row of seating and taking more than their alloted three minutes ... well ...that might be an indicator that this Drive Dating thing is working out just fine.

(Kia press release after the jump)

[Source: Kia Motors UK]

Continue reading Kia plays Cupid in London

Kia plays Cupid in London originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Jun 2006 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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