Picanto News: New Facelift Diesel Picanto Will Be Built In RHD

But will it find its way to the UK?

Although we do post this with caution, a source close to Kia tells us that the new 2007 facelift Picanto 'will' be built in right hand drive. Whilst we still remain sceptical the signs are optimistic.

To back this up, a recent press release kit from Kia Motors Corporation, although not yet published in the UK, reveals:

New 2007 Picanto will be available with the same three engines that have proved so popular in the current model range. Customers will continue to be offered a choice of two gasoline engines or a diesel powerplant — and either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.

For the 2007 model, the diesel engine will also be available in right-hand drive models.

It's that last sentence which sounds like music to our ears, lets just hope it becomes a reality.

On the subject of music, the press release also confirms what we already suspected, iPod and AUX connections in an audio system that Kia describe as an all-new centre stack with a factory-fitted, tailor-made radio/CD player.

Full audio integration was first introduced in the Kia range with the Carens SUV followed by the recent Kia Ceed hatchback and facelift Sorento. A welcome change we might add as there's nothing worse than a beautifully designed dashboard being ruined by a badly fitted aftermarket cassette/radio.

Engine specification is pretty much the same as the run out models, but we'll refrain from guessing the interior features as the press kit is aimed at European variants, although we can confirm the power steering is 'electrically powered' as opposed to speed sensitive as we suggested earlier.

No mention of the warranty either, although its more likely to be increased to 5 years as opposed to the 7 year warranty of the Ceed.

Watch this space!!

Picanto News: New Facelift Picanto To Get iPod Audio

The new facelift Picanto will be going before the motoring press at Barcelona today and so we should see and hear more information regarding specification.

Meanwhile we spotted a news article on a Kia dealers website suggesting the new Picanto will have the same audio upgrade as its bigger brother the Kia Ceed and that only means one thing...iPod connectivity!

Still no suggestion of a diesel variant for the UK but we can only live in hope.

Picanto News: Facelift Picanto Diesel In The UK: Reality Or Pipe Dream?

Were back to that old chestnut again. You know the one about whether we'll see the Diesel Picanto in any shape of form in the UK. Of course it's possible if some German or Dutch tourists happen to fancy a day out to old blighty, but so far we've been mislead and disappointed.

The recent facelift Picanto with its more rounded and intimate look (nice pic ED) and 40 mm stretch may give us hope, but somehow we doubt it'll happen. That is unless you really want it here in the first place.

So how can we manage to persuade Kia to bring an oil burning Picanto over to these shores? Simple! Convince them that your prepared to pay £7,500 for it.

This is the gospel according to Sun Motoring Journalist Ken Gibson when he says of 'the new Picanto: "One of the most impressive things about it is a great little 1.1 litre turbo diesel that does more than 55mpg."

Yes Ken we know!!

Ah, but there's still hope as Ken adds: "But Kia in the UK are debating whether to bring the engine here because it would cost up to £1,000 above the 1.1litre petrol and put the Picanto’s price up to £7,500 – which slightly defeats the model’s low-price appeal – and Kia know price is."

So he's either 'had words' with the Korean's or he likes winding us up.

Lets take his first point. The price isn't the issue at all as the Diesel Picanto 'stimulated' interest and accounted for the upturn in Picanto sales in Europe when it was launched. So if the German's, Dutch and Spanish will pay it, why won't we.

And on his last point about how price is "crucial in the entry-level city car sector", the Picanto Diesel will still be the cheapest small diesel car by a country mile at £7500 in the UK. And they'll still offer the Petrol model around £6000 as well.

Come on Kia, stop debating and get it sorted.