Melbourne show: Kia previews Picanto

KIA is still keen to get its Picanto baby car into Australia and took the next step in its global bargaining campaign by importing a car from New Zealand to display at the Melbourne motor show. “We just want to test the water and see the reaction to this car from show visitors,” said Kia Australia’s Jonathan Fletcher. “If people show an interest in this car then it gives us some ammunition (on pricing from Korea).” The brightly coloured Picanto Sports show car is only powered by a 1.1-litre engine, but Mr Fletcher says that the rising cost of petrol is becoming an issue with the Picanto’s young target market. “If you are young and live in an urban environment, you don’t need a big car,” he said. Kia’s other star exhibit was the new $24,990 Rondo SUV/MPV crossover. Although displayed on a turntable at the Sydney and Brisbane motor shows in recent months, visitors to the Melbourne event will be able to climb into an Australian-spec version.

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