Kia Unveils Third-Gen Picanto

The Picanto is likely to be Kia's entry-level car for India

Say hello to the new Kia Picanto. Now, this car might seem like a bit of a nobody at the moment, but we reckon you'd hear that name quite often in the years to come. The hatchback shares its underpinnings with Hyundai's i10, and is likely to be Kia's entry level product for India.

The Picanto has been designed by Kia’s design teams in Korea and Germany, and will be officially showcased to the public in March 2017 at the Geneva Motor Show. The automaker has remained tight-lipped about most specifications. However, it is quick to point out that the wheelbase has been increased by 15mm, whilst keeping the length identical to its predecessor.

On the design front, the Picanto does look aggressive and appealing. Most of the credit for that goes to the big alloy wheels and the red graphics which are a part of the 'GT-Line' variant. That said, even with all of the flashy bits taken away, the Picanto does look like a handsome little hatch. The family grille, the large sweptback projector headlamps with DRLs and the kei-car–like tall stance gives it the city slicker aura.

On the inside, the GT-Line gets an all-black dashboard, paired with black upholstery on the seats. There's a splash of red on the insides as well, which can be seen on the door handles and the seat base. The biggest talking point, of course, is the big floating touchscreen infotainment system that sits in the middle of the dashboard.

Kia has withheld details about the engine and transmission options, which will be made public during its official unveil at the Geneva Motor Show. We think it is a good-looking hatch which, if priced right, could give Kia the blockbuster entry it needs into the Indian four-wheeler market.