kia picanto
When Kia takes the wraps off its face-lifted 2007 Picanto at the Salon Internacional del Automovil in Barcelona on June 7, it will show off a small car that appears to draw inspiration from such Japanese powerhouses as Scion. For starters, the redone Picanto pays more attention to amenities, with the addition of what Kia describes as "higher-quality audio equipment."
The Picanto — known as the Kia Morning in the home market — gets cosmetic upgrades for 2007, including a "more rounded and intimate" look, the automaker says. The '07 Picanto is 1.6 inches longer, although the wheelbase is unchanged at 93.3 inches. The Picanto now has a more snub-nosed appearance and a larger rear bumper. It also adopts the new "face of Kia," with a wider radiator grille with a black mesh background and twin horizontal chromed bars.
The Korean automaker's design teams in Europe and Korea are responsible for the new look of this A/B segment car. Kia noted that it plans to expand sales of the Picanto to 90,000 units annually over the next few years. The Picanto is bound for Europe and Korea, with no plans to sell it in the U.S., since it is considered to be too small for American tastes.
