We managed to get a close look at the next generation Rio through an exclusive spy shoot thanks to S. Baldauf from SB-Medien, capturing Kia testing their camouflaged vehicles. Although the video is short we managed to get some new info based on where, and what the new Rio was up to.
[ads id=”0″ style=”float:left;padding:9px;”]Winter Testing
It is worth mentioning that Kia goes through many lengths in testing their vehicles. On one hand Kia uses the California Proving Grounds in the USA to test the rigors of the dessert heat, dirt roads, and varying roads surfaces. While on the other hand Kia tests their vehicles in the far reaches of the cold to ensure the car will remain reliable at both extreme temperatures. These image where taken at COLMIS Proving ground in Arjeplog, Sweden where many manufactures conduct winter tests.
Body and Styling
We briefly get a peek at the interior from the driver door side. Immediate we see a new steering wheel design that looks a little sporty. At center of the dash we see a digital display similar to the higher end Optima and Forte models. Although the Dash is covered, we can see they change the A/C ducting as well. On the front of the car we got to see a new headlight display along with turn signaling side mirrors to complement the front. Furthermore, the side mirrors are also located higher and more towards the front of the window where there use to be an additional small window on the earlier models.
[ads id=”0″ style=”float:left;padding:9px;”]An interesting observation we saw was Kia brought with them 3 different Rios, each one with its own characteristics. For example, one Rio had a shark fin antenna while another had a different set of wheels, lastly only one had what looked like HID lights. It is safe to say that these three cars must be the different trim models LX, EX, and SX. Other noticeable updates are the fog lights that seem to be higher than the previous model further reinforcing a new bumper design. On the rear we see that Kia will continue to use their rear twist beam suspension design that is shared with the Soul and Forte. Their muffler is also in the same location as the earlier model suggesting the same 1.6 GDi motor will continue to be the power plant for the car. On the Rear, we see more detail on the rear spoiler, which seems to have a V-cut in the center for be more aerodynamic. Lastly we see that the hatch is bigger by the silhouette of the camouflage edges on the trunk, this may be a sign of more trunk space in the future more, which is always a plus.
Overall, the new Rio seems to have gotten a new look for 2017. We look forward to giving the car a spin in the future, with the expectation that it is focused on the overall commuter who wants something fun, fuel efficient, reliable and most importantly affordable.
Enjoy the Video!
