Coming soon: The 4th generation Kia Rio

MANILA, Philippines - Have you been paying attention? Kia Motors has changed. It is not changing, mind you – It already has! The company has decided to look outside the square, and has since attracted phenomenal, global sales increases. And especially symbolic of the step-up of the brand, is one of the most important milestones in Kia’s grand history: The global launch of the 4th generation Kia Rio.

I felt very privileged to be part of the Philippine contingent that attended the official press launch of the 4th generation Kia Rio at the Barossa Valley in South Australia, just last August. The area was in fact, renowned for its fantastic vineyards and fresh produce, and was an excellent place to congregate and test drive the new Rio.

But before the actual test drive of course, was the official unveiling of this latest addition to Kia’s striking-design-led product range... and it was held at a beautiful winery in the Barossa, where we were all treated to an intimate dinner amidst barrels of aging wines, and with the new Rio as the room’s centerpiece

Modern, sporty and dynamic – are just a few of the words that fittingly describe the new Rio. At first glance, you cannot miss its muscular, sculpted body and the new interpretation of Kia’s signature grille. Surely, the front end of the new Rio is anything but shy. Moreover, the treatment of the front bumper and spoiler reveals evidence of the “Kia DNA”, while the coupe-like roofline contrasts dramatically with the strong and solid rear bumper.

As Nick Reid of Kia Australia put it, “The 4th-gen Rio is not an evolution from its predecessor, it is a revolution!” And this is with much thanks to Massimo Frascella, Kia’s California-based, Lead-Designer – who took it to heart to make the Rio, Kia’s ambassador and brand champion.

I distinctly remember how Frascella described the Rio during his speech at the event: He said it had a fast profile, compact volume, slim green house and a very muscular body. He also pointed out that he did not want to “copy and paste” the design across different Kia models; but instead, wanted to give the Rio its own identity while still maintaining that it came from the same Kia family.

“As the car that introduced so many Australians to Kia, its role as an ambassador cannot be overstated,” emphasized MK Kim, President and CEO of Kia Motors Australia. “The new Rio will continue that role... but as the beneficiary of all that Kia has learned and refined since the journey began, it will do so with a new level of refinement, a new maturity and a new richness,” he confidently added.

The new Kia Rio will spearhead the Korean company’s determination to achieve 2.345 million in sales globally, by the end of the year. In line with this, more and more people – most especially the locals of Australia – have begun changing their thoughts on the Kia brand: They have begun looking more seriously at the brand, for the first time.

The new Rio is 20mm longer, 25mm wider and 15mm lower than its predecessor. It also features a wheelbase extended to a total of 2570mm, thereby increasing passenger space and cargo capacity. The balance of glasshouse, wheelbase and overall proportion of this 5-door hatchback somehow gives it a premium that is rare in the light passenger vehicle segment. True enough, I could not forget how I stared through the large windows of the Rio as I drove it through the countryside, admiring the grazing, fat sheep and foreign scenery that somehow reminded me of the Shire.

Yes, Australian roads are an excellent place for test-driving new automobiles. Not only do they have the complete lineup of uphill, downhill, paved, unpaved and zig-zaggy roads – but they also pose the driver with uncommon tasks such as crossing small bodies of water, like creeks, along the way. Not to mention that gas stations are so distant from each other, you don’t have much room for any car problems. Certainly, you need a pretty resilient car to drive around a place like this.

The new Rio did not fail to perform, with its 1.6L Gamma Gdi (Gasoline Direct Injection) engine – the smallest Kia engine yet to benefit from the application of Gdi. Capable of 190kph top speed, this updated Gamma engine has friction-reducing modifications and dual CVVT (continuously variable valve timing) to achieve optimum engine performance while still being fuel-friendly.

And as we zipped through many hills and further into the Australian highway, it was nice to know that we were on board a vehicle that passed high safety standards – it had ESC (electronic stability control), HAC (hill-start assist control), EBF (electronic brake force distribution), EBA (emergency brake assist) and ABS (anti-lock braking system), to name a few. The Rio also had a cruise control function, with mounted controls on the steering wheel.

Meanwhile, the Rio’s inherent multimedia system also did not fail to please. It had an MP3-compatible CD player, virtual surround sound, and front tweeters. Of course it also had the standard auxiliary/usb port with iPod connectivity, bluetooth connectivity, and a special SDVC (speed-dependent volume control).

To be honest, I think that the Philippine convoy had too much fun driving the new Rio through the varied landscapes that we forgot to pay attention to our guidebooks and got lost along the way! Eventually, we found our way back in the right direction and were the last to arrive amongst the other nationals. Our untimeliness however, felt irrelevant at that time, as we were still preoccupied with thoughts of how well the Rio handled through the zig-zags, and how impressed we were with its Eco-friendliness.

The new Rio is indeed strategically set to completely redefine its position as a serious competitor in the light passenger vehicle segment – one of the most competitive sectors in the car market. This latest addition to the Kia family is scheduled to be launched in the Philippines this January 2012.

You may visit your nearest Kia dealership for more information on the new Rio. Because now that you’ve noticed the changes... it’s time to take a closer look!