Kia Picanto Morning Second generation
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Also called | Kia Morning Kia Picanto iOn |
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Production | 2011–present |
Model years | 2012–present |
Body style | 5-door hatchback 3-door hatchback (Europe only) |
Engine | 1.0 L Kappa II I3 petrol 1.0 L Kappa II I3 petrol/LPG 1.25 L Kappa II I4 petrol |
Transmission | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
Wheelbase | 2,385 mm (93.9 in) |
Length | 3,595 mm (141.5 in) |
Width | 1,595 mm (62.8 in) |
Height | 1,490 mm (58.7 in) |
Curb weight | 840–900 kg (1,852–1,984 lb) |
Related | Hyundai i10 |
Designer(s) | Peter Schreyer |
The second-generation Picanto made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. Designed by Kia's European design team based in Frankfurt, Germany, under the direction of Peter Schreyer, the new model is longer in wheelbase and overall length than its predecessor. The Picanto is offered with a choice of two gasoline engines: a 1.0 liter three-cylinder or a 1.25 liter four-cylinder. The Europe-spec 1.25 liter engine features ecoDynamics, Kia's fuel-efficient start-stop system In addition, there is also a gasoline/LPG version of the 1.0 liter engine available.The manual & automatic transmissions remain unchanged like the original.
The Picanto is available worldwide (except North America and Australia) as a 5-door hatchback while the European market receives the exclusive 3-door variant The 3-door version is the same length as the 5-door model, but it sports new windows and doors, different bumpers and a front grille with silver or red trim
Marketing
As part of the marketing campaign for the Picanto, Kia produced a promotional video featuring the world's first nail art animation. Over 900 artificial nails and 1,200 bottles of nail polish were used in a span of 25 days (with each nail taking two hours to paint) to create images of the Picanto in motion.
In the UK, the Picanto is the official sponsor of the ITV dating game show Take Me Out. Kia UK released a series of viral videos on their YouTube channel to promote both the car and the programme. Each video features actress Natasha Barrero, as she drives a black Picanto 3-door before being swooned over by different men.
Awards
The Picanto won the iF Product Design award in the "Transportation Design" category in 2011 and the Red Dot award in the "Automobiles, transportation, commercial and water vehicles" category in 2012.Top Gear magazine named the Picanto "Bargain Car of the Year" in 2011
Reliability
In January 2013, the Picanto was named most reliable car in the UK, according to data published by Moneysupermarket.com in conjunction with Warranty Direct. Out of an average Reliability Index (RI) score of 100 (the lower the score, the less problems reported by owners), the Picanto achieved a score of 3.00/100.