Kia Picanto Facelift: Official Details & Images Released

Kia came out with an official release and more images of its updated Picanto mini that’ll premiere at the Barcelona Auto Show on June 7, 2007, In a nutshell, the 2008 Picanto received a new front end, different rear light clusters and an updated interior inspired from the Cee’d. There are no changes in the engine range. The Koreans believe that the facelift will help boost annual oversees sales in excess of 130,000 units over the next several years. -Press Release & Images after the jump

Upgraded 2007 Kia Picanto set for Barcelona Motor Show debut

• - Refreshed, restyled and longer – new 2007 Kia Picanto to debut on 7 June
• - Fresh colours, plus upgraded interior, audio equipment and power steering

(SEOUL) May 25, 2007 – Kia Motors Corporation has confirmed that the newly upgraded 2007 Kia Picanto will make its world premiere at the 34^th Salon Internacional del Automovil in Barcelona, Spain on 7 June. Kia’s design teams in Korea and Europe have revisited the company’s smallest car, preserved its ‘young, sporty and friendly’ spirit, and evolved the new 2007 Picanto – a car with more glamorous looks, an upgraded interior and higher quality audio equipment.

Attractively refreshed and restyled to be ‘more rounded and intimate’, the 2007 Picanto is 40 mm longer, with an overall length of 3535 mm, featuring an extended, rounded nose and deeper, larger rear bumper. All-new panels are used for the bonnet, front wings, front bumper and rear bumper. The front and rear light clusters are new and follow the ‘rounded’ theme.

A new wider radiator grille, with black mesh background and twin horizontal chromed bars supporting the central Kia badge, is part of the evolving design process that is defining a new ‘Face of Kia’. The standard roof spoiler now extends across the full width of the car, while the wheelbase is unchanged at 2370 mm. Customers will be offered a choice of five new exciting, contemporary colours in a range of nine exterior colours.

“With nearly 400,000 exports since its introduction in 2004, the Picanto has not only opened the door to a segment where we previously had no presence but it has become one of the Kia line-up’s global best sellers,” commented Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President & COO of Kia Motors Corporation. “We are confident that with its fresh new looks and upgraded equipment the Picanto will continue to appeal to the world’s A-segment customers and reach annual overseas sales in excess of 130,000 units over the next several years.”

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2008 Kia Picanto Facelift: New Face & Interior

Nearly 4 years after the Picanto’s debut in early 2004 Kia “pro-cee’ded” to its mini's first facelift. Up front, the redesigned Korean mini gets a new set of headlights, a “Cee’d” styled grille, a new bumper and hood. In the rear, the F/L Picanto features new light-clusters and a slightly redesigned bumper. Apart from giving it a fresher look, these changes also resulted to a slight increase in length with the Picanto now measuring in at 3.540 mm (+40 mm).

Inside, the 2008 Picanto has adopted various goodies from the Cee’d like the gauges with bright orange illumination, the 3spoke steering wheel along with a redesigned center console equipped with a new factory radio-CD and new button-wear all inspired from Cee’d’s (we know, you got the point). There are no changes in the engine range as the facelifted Picanto will continue to be offered with the current 61Hp 1.0 & 65Hp 1.1 petrol and the 75Hp 1.1 diesel motors. -More Pictures after the jump

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