기아차가 2016 파리 모터쇼에서의 정식 데뷔에 앞서 신형 리오(프라이드)의 디자인을 공개했다. 4세대 모델이 되는 신형 리오의 분위기는 이전과 비교해 상당히 젊다. 곡선 위주였던 디자인에 직선으로 날을 세워 팽팽한 긴장감을 더했다.
디자인은 한국과 미국, 독일 디자인 센터의 합작품이다. 헤드램프와 연결한 형태의 새로운 그릴을 적용했고 언더 그릴 디자인은 현대의 육각형을 거꾸로 옮긴 듯하다. 헤드램프 디테일이 매력적인데 주간주행등의 디자인에서 폭스바겐 골프의 향기가 느껴지는 건 유감이다. 디자인뿐만 아니라 비율에서도 매력을 더했다. 3세대보다 15mm 길고 5mm 넓은 반면 높이는 5mm 낮췄다. 휠베이스는 10mm 늘어난 2,580mm로 안정된 모습이다.
다층구조의 실내는 기능을 우선시했다. 운전석에서 손쉽게 조작할 수 있도록 플로팅 HMI(휴먼-머신 인터페이스) 기술을 사용했다. 센터 페시아의 스위치들의 수를 줄인 동시에 직관적으로 배치했고 이전보다 선명한 터치 스크린 모니터를 장착했다.
아쉽게도 엔진 라인업에 대해선 아직 입을 열지 않았다. 몇몇 전문가들은 3기통 터보 엔진을 엔트리에 얹고 고성능 GT 모델엔 180마력 정도의 고출력 엔진을 사용할 가능성이 높다고 전망했다.
The all-new, fourth-generation Kia Rio will make its world premiere on 29 September in Paris, at the 2016 Mondial de l’Automobile. With a progressive new exterior and interior design, the Rio is revealed for the first time globally today through an exclusive set of images.
Design of the new Rio was led by Kia’s design centres in Germany and California, in close collaboration with the company’s global design headquarters in Namyang, Korea. The appearance of the new Rio is defined by straight lines and smooth surfacing, giving the car a distinctive, confident new look.
Progressive exterior design
At the front, the Rio wears the latest evolution of Kia’s ‘tiger-nose’ grille, now thinner in height and wider across the front of the car. Integrated bi-function projection headlamps – again, thinner and more sculpted than those of its predecessor – project a new U-shaped LED light signature. Changes to the front of the car, including moving the fog lamps’ position outwards within the front bumper, are designed to add greater visual width for a more stable overall look. The new Rio grows by 5mm in width (to 1,725mm), further adding to this effect.
In profile, the fourth-generation Rio’s lengthened, more balanced stance is achieved with a long bonnet and longer front overhang, a 10 mm longer wheelbase (up to 2,580 mm), a thinner, more upright C-pillar, and a shorter rear overhang. Overall, the new car is 15mm longer than its predecessor (now 4,065mm long), and 5mm lower in height (to 1,450mm). Straight, clearly-defined lines run down the full length of the car’s shoulder and along its doors, further stretching the appearance of the car for a more stable, confident look.
The rear section of the Rio is now more upright, with a near-vertical rear windscreen and a shorter overhang. The straight line that runs from the grille, through the headlamps and along the top of the doors, continues around the back of the car, paired with thinner, more sculpted rear lamps, which now feature a new arrow-shaped LED light signature. Like the wider-looking ‘face’ of the car, the rear design of the new Rio gives it a stronger overall appearance.
Modern, driver-oriented cabin
The new Kia Rio will offer motorists a modern new cabin design, featuring sculptural forms and a more ergonomic layout than its predecessor.
Like the exterior, straight lines running the width of the dashboard characterise the shape of the interior, giving the cabin a wider appearance and increasing the sense of space for occupants.
The dashboard itself is now angled towards the driver, and at its center is a new infotainment system, a ‘floating’ HMI (human-machine interface), with a high-resolution touchscreen to power the Rio’s audio, navigation and new connectivity systems. The new HMI has allowed Kia to reduce the number of buttons on the center console.
The new Rio is available with a choice of black or grey cloth seat upholstery, or with black or grey faux leather. A ‘Red Pack’ for the Rio gives buyers black with red faux leather-trimmed seats throughout the cabin. The cabin itself features gloss black and metallic trim throughout, for a more modern finish.
Production starts at the end of 2016
The all-new Rio will offer buyers class-leading practicality and safety technology, the latest connectivity features, and more assured and engaging ride and handling characteristics.
The Kia Rio is the Korean manufacturer’s best-selling model globally, with more than 473,000 sold around the world in 2015. The next generation will enter production towards the end of 2016 for the UK, with production timings for other regions to be announced closer to launch.
