2017 Kia Picanto Release Date, Specs: All-New City Car Brings More Refinements and Technologies
The Kia Picanto continues to be a very popular vehicle among consumers due to its affordable price tag and compact proportions that make it ideal for city driving. Now, the South Korean automobile manufacturer has introduced the all-new third-generation city car with numerous enhancements that make it more capable on the road.
The 2017 Kia Picanto will be offered as a five-door model with a youthful, energetic and more assertive design language. It features a more confident-looking front fascia highlighted by strong and straight lines, Kia's signature "tiger-nose" grille, angular wraparound projection headlamps with LED indicators and daytime running lights and side intakes.
For those looking for a sportier option, Kia will also be offering a GT-Line version of the Picanto at a later date. It will be distinguishable via red, silver and black exterior accents.
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The newest version of Kia's A-segment car benefits from a stronger but lighter body. This translates to enhanced tensile strength and a 32-percent improvement when it comes to static torsional stiffness. Additionally, the 2017 Picanto features a modified suspension for ride stability, a longer wheelbase for a more spacious cabin, a new steering rack and stiffer anti-roll bars. The interiors were also soundproofed to reduce noise and vibrations from the outside, thus, ensuring that the cabin is quiet and comfortable.
There will be three powertrain options for the 2017 Kia Picanto: the 1.0-liter and 1.25-liter naturally-aspirated multipoint injection engines used by the previous model and a new 1.0-liter turbocharged direct-injected gasoline engine that will be made available at a later date. The engines will be mated to the standard five-speed manual transmission.
The mini car is also equipped with advanced technologies such as a 7-inch "floating" touchscreen display with navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and a rearview parking camera. Meanwhile, when it comes to safety, there are six airbags with an optional knee airbag and Vehicle Stability Management with Electronic Stability Control. The city car is also optional with Autonomous Emergency Braking.
The 2017 Kia Picanto will make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month before going on sale in Europe in the second quarter of the year.
