DESPITE evoking a Mardi Gras anthem, cheapo underwear, a song by New Romantic outfit Duran Duran and bargain-basement drive-away deals, Kia has retained the Rio name for its fifth-generation baby. But out goes the Aldi packaging for some Audi-style couture that the company hopes will man up the Rio’s rubbish image, aided by a concerted localisation effort to bring the undercarriage up from dreary to dynamic. Unfortunately, we have yet to sample the base 1.4 that most buyers will choose, but with newfound looks and swagger, the direct-injected 1.6-litre Si and SLi range-topper herald a formidable challenge to Mazda2 and co. Kia, cue the music, whistles and daiquiris, because your latest supermodel supermini might just be the life of the light-car party.