The 2015 Kia Rio debuts at the Paris Motor Show. The maker will have 23 vehicles on display at the show.
A few years ago, it was Lotus that tried to make a big splash at the Paris Motor Show and now Kia seems to be grabbing the spotlight for this year’s event, which starts later this week.
The South Korean automaker will have 23 vehicles on its stand in the City of Light this year, including an Optima T-Hybrid and a new Rio, which hasn’t been updated since 2011, as well as new versions of its Sorento SUV.
The Optima features diesel-electric hybrid powertrain with a 1.7-liter diesel boasting a turbocharger and a supercharger. The new diesel uses less fuel than a comparably sized gas engine, but develops more low-end torque, which is an advantage in city driving.
“No plans have been confirmed yet for mass production of the Kia Optima T-Hybrid show car,” the maker said in a statement. “The T-Hybrid powertrain remains under consideration for new Kia models in the future.”
The Rio gets a complete makeover for 2015. A new “tigernose” grille, bumper and foglights highlight the changes to the front and there is a new bumper for the back. There are two new colors, as well as new alloy wheels. On the inside, the maker sought to make it more user-friendly, but with some style, so there is a new center stack and chrome trim.
There are engine options ranging from 74 horsepower to 107, mated to five- or six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions that are available with stop/start ignition. The changes are necessary to keep the somewhat passé Rio as a top-seller in the line-up.
(Kia’s splashy new designs re-ignite sales. For more, Click Here.)
“The Kia Rio was our best-selling vehicle nameplate worldwide in 2013, with a total of 471,000 sales, and among our top-three sellers here in Europe with 56,821 units delivered. Improvements to this model are of major significance for our brand,” said Michael Cole, chief operating officer, Kia Motors Europe.
(Click Here for details about VW’s new Passat GTE.)
The new Sorento gets a fresher look for 2015 featuring a more swept-back exterior with sculpted sides giving a more contemporary, yet muscular look. The SUV comes in a five- and seven-passenger version, which utilize a fold-forward second row of seats that allow passengers in the third row to exit more easily.
(To see more about Ford converting F-Series Super Duty to aluminum, Click Here.)
The U.S. version of the SUV will be powered by either a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or an upgraded 3.3-liter V6 while the European models get a diesel option.
“….while the European models get a diesel option.” Why do all the stories end like that? Diesels are SO much better matched to US driving conditions than gasoline engines. Yet cars that are only, or mostly, sold with diesels over there (incl. Chevy Cruze & Malibu, Dodge Journey [Fiat Freemont there], Nissan Rogue [Qashqai], Mazda 6, Ford Escape [Kuga]) are only gasoline here, with half the mileage, less acceleration, and we don’t even know we’re being short-changed.
Good news, Fred. See our story on the Jaguar XE coming to the States. We’ll get diesels and gas engines.
Paul E.
The reason why Diesels are hardly sold/promoted in the U.S. are:
1. Obama and the EPA dreamed up the most stringent Diesel engine emissions requirement in the WORLD to prevent auto makers from selling clean Diesels in the U.S. – as the rest of the world already uses.
Unscrupulous Obama and the EPA want to force EV’s and hybrids on U.S. consumers instead of allowing them to purchase cheaper, practical Diesel powered vehicles like the rest of the world enjoys.
2. Most U.S. consumers are technically ignorant on clean Diesel technology and some were burned by the 80’s U.S. auto maker’s gas engines converted for Diesel operation that failed miserably.
3. U.S. consumers do not know that Obama and the EPA have forced an expensive, impractical Diesel emission system on auto makers to prevent U.S. consumers from buying clean Diesels. Many auto makers refuse to incur the high price for a Diesel emission standard that only meets the U.S. EPA requirements.
Obama and the EPA intentionally did NOT use the practical and VERY “green” Diesel emissions requirements used in Germany because so many good clean Diesel auto makers are located in Germany and could supply the U.S. with more clean Diesels at a lower cost.
This is your government working to HURT THE POPULACE !!!
If you look at HD pick-up truck sales you will see that clean Diesel sales often exceed gas engine sales by a large margin over the past 10+ years as a segment of U.S. consumers learn the HUGE benefits to clean Diesels that Obama and the EPA do NOT want the U.S. populace to enjoy.