The teaser sketches suggest that the next Rio is more of a head-turner. The current model’s soft lines have given way to an edgier, more grown-up look. Notably, the Rio gets a tall front end with a grille that’s wider than the one found on the current model, and swept-back headlights; the look is loosely inspired by the funky Soul. Out back, it features a more upright C-pillar and LED tail lights. However, teaser sketches have a tendency of making cars look sportier than they actually are.
The cabin is more stylish than before. It features a three-spoke steering wheel, a slanted center console, MINI-esque toggle switches on the center stack, and a sculpted dashboard. The Rio will be available with the newest generation of Kia’s touch screen-based infotainment system, and it will inherit a handful of electronic driving aids from bigger members of the South Korean company’s lineup.
Kia’s fourth-generation Rio is scheduled to make its official debut on the first press day of the Paris show, and Digital Trends will be in the French capital to bring you live images of it and full details as soon as it breaks cover. Look for the new Rio to go on sale nationwide next year as a 2018 model.
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At the time of writing it sounds like we’ll only see the hatchback model in Paris, which makes sense because five-door models are considerably more popular than four-door sedans on the Old Continent. The four-door variant of the new Rio will be presented to the public either in the fall during the Los Angeles Auto Show, or early next year at the Chicago Auto Show.
