Kia Plans International Debut Of Fourth-Gen Rio At Paris Auto Show

When the Paris Auto Show, also known as the Mondial de l’Automobile (World of the Auto), kicks off next month there will be a host of product debuts. One of the early announcements, though, comes fully a month before the shows September from Kia. The automaker will show off its new Rio or, as Kia puts it, the fourth-generation Rio. Indeed, the world premiere of the Rio is planned for Sept. 29.

Three of the automaker’s design centers had roles in sculpting the distinctive lines of the Kia compact. The automaker’s design centers in Germany and California worked closely with the automaker’s main design center in Namyang, Korea.

The fourth-generation Rio’s distinctive appearance gives it a wholly new character. The straight lines and smooth surfaces, combined with a new longer front overhang and hood to help the Rio appear more balanced than its predecessor. The cabin design features a swept windshield that leads to a semi-swept roof. The roofline continues to a slightly swept backlight and rear. The greenhouse features an upright C-pillar. Overall, the new Rio conveys a sense of movement, even when it is sitting still.

The all-new Rio features best-in-class practicality as well as safety technology and the latest connectivity features. The ride and handling of the front-drive compact are, the automaker said today, more assured as is the handling.

The Kia Rio is the automaker’s best-selling global model. With sales of 473,000 in 2015 – the latest full year for which figures are available – Kia leads the automaker’s offerings.