All About Cars: Kia Picanto

The Kia Picanto, known as the Kia Morning in South Korea and Chile, Kia EuroStar in Taiwan, Kia New Morning in Vietnam and the Naza Suria or Naza Picanto in Malaysia, is a low cost city car produced by Kia Motors.

The Picanto is based on a shortened platform of the Hyundai Getz. It is available with either 1.0 or 1.1 L petrol engines. A 3-cylinder diesel engine (based on the Kia Cerato's 1.5 CRD four-cylinder unit), with direct injection and a variable geometry turbocharger, has been available in the European market since Spring '04, with power reaching 75 PS (55 kW). The Morning is 3,495 mm (137.6 in) long with a five-door hatchback body. Automatic gearboxes are optional in the petrol units. Also sold in some countries with a 1.2L engine found in the Hyundai i10

Kia Picanto 1.1 is a 5-seat, front wheel drive (FWD) hatchback that has 5 doors. It has been fabricated for the first time in 2003. The automobile has the following measurements: height – 1480.00 mm, width – 1595.00 mm, length – 3495.00 mm. Additionally, its wheelbase is 2370.00 mm, its front and rear track are 1400.00 mm and 1385.00 mm respectively. Its curb weight is 852 kg. The engine of Kia Picanto 1.1 is naturally-aspirated, 4-cylinder with 3 valves per cylinder and has a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) and engine displacement of 1086 cc. It is installed in the front of the vehicle and its alignment is transverse.

The interior architecture shows the same chic functionality as the exterior with major controls arranged in an attractive and easy to use layout which emphasises the width and space of the interior. The thick rimmed two-spoke steering wheel and the signature Kia 'three cylinder' instrument cluster with its clear and precise graphics, reflect the consistency with which the new design philosophy is being used throughout the Kia product line-up.

New Kia Picanto will also be available with automatically controlled air-conditioning, electronic and heated folding door mirrors with side repeaters, automatic light control with 'escort' and 'welcome' modes, steering wheel mounted audio controls, retractable dual cup holders,