Kia Picanto Showcased At Auto Expo 2018

Published February 9, 2018
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The Picanto is one of the first few cars Kia could launch in India

One of the most exciting pavilions at Auto Expo 2018 has to belong to Kia. Yes, they aren't here yet and we won’t see the Korean brand turn a wheel on Indian tarmac for at least another year but that’s exactly the part that makes their pavilion so exciting. We are looking at a future competitor in one of the most hotly contested markets - the small car segment. And this is the car that Kia would be banking on to take the fight to Maruti and Hyundai.

The Picanto has been on sale for a number of years in Europe, Asia and Australia. It’s a small family hatchback that’s perfect for zipping through crowded urban areas. Looking at its silhouette, it’s hard to not see the lines of the Grand i10 hidden beneath the snazzier bodywork and that’s because both cars are developed on the same JA/BA platform. This should come as no surprise considering that sister company Hyundai shares a number of platforms in its lineup with Kia. However, despite being based on the same platform, there is a considerable size difference between the two cars.

The Picanto is 170mm shorter in length, 65mm in width and 35mm shorter in height and also has a 25mm shorter wheelbase. So, when launched, the Picanto could be positioned below its Hyundai cousin. But, what the Kia Picanto lacks in size it more than makes up for it in style. It takes a familiar shape and puts a new sporty spin on the design we have now become accustomed to. Large oversized headlamps surround the signature Kia air dam, while the bumper also has some nice sporty notes to the design.

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Globally, the Picanto is offered with a number of standout features like cruise control, forward collision warning system and autonomous emergency braking, but we expect it to lose some or most of these frills when it is launched in the subcontinent. The Picanto is internationally offered with two engine options - a 1.0-litre petrol (67PS/96Nm) and a 1.2-litre petrol (84PS/121Nm). Transmission options include a 4-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual. We expect Kia to offer the 1.2-litre engine with both transmission options in India and you can expect a launch some time in 2019. Once launched, it will compete against the Hyundai Grand i10, the Maruti Celerio and the Renault Kwid.