2012 Kia Rio
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2012 Kia Rio
Kia has released the first images of its 2012 Rio hatchback ahead of its official Geneva Motor Show debut, and might we say, it's quite a looker. The Korean automaker has been doing some fantastic things with styling in the past few years –thanks in part to strong leadership from design director Peter Schreyer –and now the smaller Rio gets a healthy dose of modernity. It looks fantastic in these photos and we're eager to see the new angles and curves live in the metal. The Rio will be offered with a range of gasoline and diesel powertrains in other markets, including a 1.1-liter diesel that only generates 85 g/km of CO2. We're most curious about the new 1.2-liter turbocharged direct-injected engine –we've heard about this three-cylinder powerplant before –and if it proves to be well-received in Europe, Kia will likely offer it here in the United States after the Rio's initial launch. Look for the Rio to go on sale in the UK starting in September, with a three-door variant expected to launch in early 2012. We don't have any official word as to when we'll see the facelifted Rio here in the United States, but we'd guess that it'll arrive roughly around the same time as the Euro-spec version.
Amazing how many small cars are being redesigned for 2012.
#2
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A definite improvement, but once again the pinched Lego grille looks odd and overly complex. Why is it so damn hard for automakers to design clean looking grilles?
#6
It's a decent/good design; much better than the current Rio but, not surprisingly, a bit of a letdown from the teaser renderings.
The changes don't seem that drastic, but altogether, they make quite a diff. in the end result.
The changes don't seem that drastic, but altogether, they make quite a diff. in the end result.
#7
Lexus Test Driver
The more I study it, the more it looks like the aborted last generation Saturn Astra (Opel). Kind of dated.
Last edited by Fizzboy7; 02-12-11 at 07:54 PM.
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I think the only real similarity between the two is the tail lights. The only other likeness they share is that they are both hatchbacks, and therefore share the overall profile that just about all small hatches have. With all the nice tail light designs to come out of KIA lately, they certainly could have avoided deriving these from a conservative and dated VW look.
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Not a fan of this. IMHO, as with most of the new Hyundai/Kia designs, it looks too garish and overstyled, as if it's trying too hard to be stylish. It also looks a lot like a VW Golf.
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looks great!