Kia releases first official images of the 2012 Rio hatchback!
These are the very-first official image renderings of the all-new 2012 Kia Rio!
Described as the “next big step” in the automaker’s ongoing design revolution, the next-generation Rio 5-door hatchback incorporates fresh and attractive exterior styling that should appeal to consumers in the 25 to 49 age range.
Styled under the guidance of Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer, the 2012 Rio features Kia’s signature grille, swept-back headlights and distinctive character line which rises out of the front wheel towards the rear-end.
Inside, the new Rio features attractively styled dashboard and higher grade materials. According to Kia, the new model offers a feeling of quality typically associated with larger and more expensive vehicles.
Kia also says the new Rio hatchback has grown in size, gaining a bit in length and width departments. It’s also a bit lower than the out-going Rio model.
Next-generation Rio will be available as a five-door hathcback (as seen on the images) and a four-door sedan. Some sources close to Kia also suggest, the automaker is also developing a three-door variant.
“Downsizing is becoming more and more of a trend these days and a B-segment car as attractive as all-new Rio, with its driver-oriented cabin and interior trim options, will no doubt help consumers to be more comfortable making that switch. New Rio is the “next big step” in Kia’s design revolution and we anticipate this model becoming even more popular than the current vehicle,” commented Soon-Nam Lee, Director of Overseas Marketing at Kia Motors Corporation.
The all-new Rio htachback will be displayed at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show alongside next-generation Kia Picanto city car.
2012 Kia Rio 5-door image gallery
Great! Beautiful!
Indeed, the next-gen Kia Rio hatch is looking to be a real hotness! Hopefully, it will look as good as it does on the images when it hits production!
WOW. This car is going to be awesome….again. Love the current Rio and I can’t wait for this one!!!!!
Really great looking, I’m lookin forward to the next Rio!
No Rio in Chicago. Was at Detroit, so I was informed of Kia plans for autoshows. Nothing is totally finalized yet, but these are the three plans.
Plan A:
-Chicago – Soul Facelift, Cadenza
-New York – Rio
Plan B:
-Chicago – Cadenza
-New York – Rio, Soul Facelift
Plan C:
-Chicago – Soul Facelift
-New York – Rio, Cadenza
so……. what’s the story now…….. ? was I right? 🙂
F-ing sweet!!
Great model . very nice . Kia please change the Rio name , it’s to old and ugly .
We’ll see how right you are when it is unveiled in the USA.
I like it. The interior is Sportage version 2.0
Hmmm I have been giving this lots of thaught, and I am quite sure that squarehole works for Kia or certainly has inside info. I’m wodering if the previous “RIO” was actually something different for a different market. I remember when the ceed came out, everyone was up in arms that us and canada didnt get it, I’m wondering if it is the same story here maybe a euro only car under a different name, I’m sure squarehole is being cautious because they have to be confidential so they don’t lose their job at Kia…. maybe this is the Kia K1???? I would love to here from squarehole again but i have a feeling we wont and i’m sure he or she is reading all of these posts with a big smile on their face.
I only said the first sedan spyshots were not the Rio sedan. And I was right. I said you will see 3 and 5 door before the sedan and I was right….. anything else? 🙂
That other sedan was certainly a Kia. not for euro market, because euro market would be a hatch. You can’t tell me that little 4 lug sedan was not a Kia, it had a blatant tiger nose. I think what this dude means about the 3 and 5 door being first is that the 3 and 5 door will be seen FIRST at Geneva, then the sedan will be seen in New York, possibly along with a 5 door.
Just went back to October to look at the Rio sedan. Compared (PLEASE do this!) the dash picture to the dash sketch, and it is the same thing – the Rio sedan pictures have the same dash (but toned down) as the 5/3 door sketch. Saw a few similarities to the overall deign in the photos to the sketches, and the sketches look more European. I am going to go out on a limb and say that the Euro 3 and 5 doors will have the fascia from the sketch, and NA Rio 5 and 3 doors will have a the front fascia from the sedan that is show in the pictures, and Europe will not get the sedan. This would make sense to appeal to the different markets (ala cee’d) So far that is the only logical explanation, and I’m sticking to it until I’m proven wrong. Regardless of what anyone else says.
wrong
wrong is for Greg…
HAHAHAHAHA! Prove it……..oh wait, you can’t HAHAHA!
My answer to why the sketch has 5 lugs could be as simple as – it’s a sketch. Designers and engineers probably don’t really get together and talk small details like that.
I remmber in an interview last year form peter shryer, he was saying that they are working on a mx5 competitor? Are we getting hotter or colder squarehole???
It is really as simple as comparing official Rio interior sketch to the interior of that sedan. You can’t tell me it’s not the same interior.
SO Just as a side note, I am not sure where to post this but I did on the Optima article as well. I just found out that Canada is getting a turbo model with the sportage within the next 2 months, dealers can now order them.
i dont even think that this is a rio on the sketch. i think this is new face of tiger nose for europe, and first car who will implement this new face will be rio hatch.
lets go back to the sketch and details. First 5 lugnuts: kia cee’d have it; rio have 4 always. Design of the alloys: they look like one seen on the pro_cee’d concept. Rear window and rear spoiler: totally same as on pro_cee’d. Rear between 5th door and bumper: same as on pro_cee’d. door handle on 5th door: as on pro_cee’d. Notice that sketch does not have a triangular glass at the a-pillar found on spied new Rio!
Conclusion: this is a sketch of new procee’d (i hope xD). Kia rio build for europe market will be very look like this one,as well as kia rio for rest of the world will look like new optima.
The Forte Koup has a slightly different center stack.
Look at the interior sketch, you will see the triangular glass at the a-pillar
On another note, do you think Kia will release a Veloster based car? Id like to see that…
But the veloster is a 1.6L. This can be a smaller version of the Forte Koup. Although you’re right. Chances are slim.
I read the new Rio will be longer, wider and lower, with the interior having much better feel, this sounds very positive!