Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the new model of access to the Korean house is now in its second generation. A car from 2004 (year of launch) has reinvented the concept and spirit of the city car. Over the past six years, Kia has increased global sales by 114%, showing only a +26% in 2010 (with Hyundai) reaching fifth place among the major manufacturers. With over 1.1 million units produced, Picanto boasts an undeniable sales success and a widespread appreciation of the "experts", having contributed significantly to strengthening the brand image, especially in the most attractive markets for this kind of compact cars. In Italy more than 73,000 cars sold. Now this second generation, completely redesigned, not only aims to collect the legacy of its predecessor, but also and above all to create an even greater interest, involving new groups of potential customers, in particular young people and all car enthusiasts very careful design and quality.
Picanto is presented now as a family of models, with two body variants: the obligatory five-door and three doors to a younger audience.
The salient features of the new Picanto is the increase in size and the longer wheelbase than the first generation, with obvious advantages in terms of roominess and load capacity that make it particularly competitive in a global market sector that absorbs about 2.4 million vehicles globally.
With the new design improves space, style and aerodynamics
in recent years Kia has experienced a substantial transformation of the design of their cars, speeding up the search path of the avant-garde stylistic trends. This process began with a striking symbol of modernity as the Soul, has progressed at an accelerated pace, punctuated by models such as the come and the new Sportage. As a newcomer in the family Kia, the Picanto offers a further bold step forward, able to attract the attention and curiosity with an even more dynamic design.
Already at first glance Picanto expresses vitality, strength and a strong personality that manifests itself even in the face, characterized by the unmistakable family resemblance Kia. Movement from the front take the slender side, marked by clean lines and elusive. Compared to the previous generation, the length is increased by 15 mm, just like the pace. Therefore, the footprint longitudinal total of 3.595 meters with a width that, if only for half an inch, does not exceed six feet. Even within the available space of the five passengers has increased, just as the boot volume, increased by 27%, up to the capacity (in a "five-seat") of 200 liters, arriving at 870 folding down the backrests the rear seat. With the attention paid to every detail of the vehicle body, aerodynamic drag has been reduced substantially, so as to obtain a value of all respect, equal to a value of 0.31 Cd.
A new reference for the category with the comfort of a "great"
The interior is another strong point of the new Picanto, both at the design for the attention paid to detail, called to make life on board and driving the enjoyable as possible. Each buyer can choose from four levels of equipment to which they correspond as many ways to live a modern city car: essential, practical, or even refined luxury. The four versions, identified by the names Easy, City Life and Trendy, representing increasing levels in the range of accessories to offer the customer an offer clear and well identified, which simplifies the choice. The new Picanto Easy, that is the version of ' access, is already offering qualifying elements such as six airbags, electronic assistance dynamic generation (abs, ebd, bas ess), power steering, adjustable steering wheel height, asymmetrically folding rear seat with 60/40 canopy tonneau cover and trip computer. Version City, in turn, is characterized by a very attractive balance between price and equipment which include, as standard, electric front windows, central locking, manual air conditioning with air filter incoming air, height-adjustable driver's seat , color-keyed bumpers and inserts "Metal Look". The next step, style, tone adds a further refinement and enhanced standard equipment with the radio with four speakers and MP3 CDs, USB and iPod ® connection, front fog lights, tachometer, door handles and exterior mirrors in body color.
The most complete, Trendy, is enriched by the steering wheel and shift knob partially coated leather, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, electric windows for the rear windows, LED daytime running lights with "Autolight control" function and "follow me home" and central locking with remote control (with the alarm-) integrated into the ignition key which is collapsible. To further enhance the driving comfort of the Picanto has been adopted all possible measures to reduce any kind of noise or vibration, hydraulic supports for the engine and transmission, three-layer insulation at the dashboard, double seals at the doors and dampers in the binding of the side mirrors.
New engine 1000 for a sporty driving and economic
engine of the new Kia Picanto, the family "Kappa", is characterized by high efficiency combined with a particularly lively in every operating condition. The brilliant three-cylinder of 998 cc., With its 51 kW/69 hp at 6,200 rpm 'and 95 Nm / 9.7 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm', ensures all the liveliness in all conditions necessary in city driving and never affect consumption, which are maintained on all levels of interest with a mileage of 23.8 km with a well-liter of fuel in combined cycle and a CO2 emissions level certificate of just 99 g / km. For this engine, Kia Motors has also developed a special version with 82 hp LPG available later this year.
Dynamic handling unusual
designing the new Picanto engineers have focused on the evolution of the frame so as to obtain a particularly agile road manners and pleasant, as well as improve the absorption and overall comfort. The front McPherson strut geometry has a new, more flexible springs and a 12% greater excursion of the wheels at the rear trailing arms interconnected diagram has the "torsion" of 60% stiffer, softer springs, and 29% elastic supports larger. The result of these changes is reduced understeer and improved steering precision. The braking system is standard on four discs in specimens fitted with stability control ESC and the system offers as standard ABS, Emergency Brake Assist and electronic brake-force distribution on both axles. More safe for passengers and pedestrians The new shell is made with generous use of high strength steels, while the structure of the uprights at two elements have been integrated with the function of rollbar to stiffen and protect the passenger volume. So much so that at the front to the rear suspension of attacks have been reinforced with additional elements that further stiffen the body, improving the safety level of steering precision and smoothness of operation. In case of accident all passengers enjoy a particularly high level of security, unusual for this class of cars, but rather in line with the standards of higher segment cars. The standard equipment includes in fact, in addition to safety belts with pretensioners six airbags (front, side and slightly posterior), which provide the best protection of the head and chest in the presence of any type of impact. Moreover, in the violent and sudden braking, the system ESS (Emergency Stop Signal) automatically activates the hazard warning lights to alert other motorists that follow and prevent the risk of collisions.
Finally, to best meet the increasingly stringent standards on pedestrian safety, the new Picanto is equipped with a side of safety under the front bumper, while in front of the windshield has been created a zone of shock absorption, so as to further optimize pedestrian protection in case of investment. Precisely for this reason it was created a specific area of deformation of the body, obtained by moving the locking side of the bonnet.
The Picanto security sweeps at 360 °, however, also arriving to ensure peace of mind throughout the life cycle of the car. This is made possible by the now famous Kia warranty of 7 years or 150,000 km which in fact it protects against unpleasant surprises in a clear and lasting. This coverage is, of course, valid for all versions of the Picanto and transferred to subsequent owners of the car, along with contributing to the high overall quality to enhance significantly the maintenance of a high resale value on the used market. Prices How to prices, the Picanto Easy has a price of 9,200 euros, the City costs 10,500 euros, the Style Trendy 11,200 and 12,050. To launch a campaign was launched which provides a general and unconditional discount of 1,500 euros. The entry fee goes down well to 7,700 euros, which together with the guarantee of 7 years or 150,000 km is a strength of the competition.
