New look for Picanto supermini

• Kia Picanto has new exterior styling
• New stereo and internal console, too
• New car goes on sale in October

More Information

• More pictures

Latest News

• Renault Fluence ZE review
• Alpina D5 Bi-Turbo review
• Geneva 2012: Audi TT RS plus
• Fiat Punto Twinair review

Related stories

• Cee'd Wagon - pictures & more details
• Cee'd cabrio on show at Geneva
• Seven-year all-over warranty for Cee'd
• New Kia 4x4 concept car on show
• Convertibles worth waiting for?
• Kia Sorento recall
• Kia bids to slash emissions
• Big plans for small cars from Kia
• Kia Cee'd grows a boot

Kia has released the first pictures of the face-lifted version of its Picanto supermini.

The car has been given a more rounded look and a similar grille to the Carens and Cee'd.

A new bonnet, bumpers, wings and headlights stretch the car by 40mm, and the door mirrors now incorporate indicator lights.

The car also has electronic power steering in place of an engine-driven system. This means the car isn't continually sapping some of the engine's power, so small fuel economy improvements have been possible in both the 1.0- and 1.1-litre models.

The cabin has a new centre console with an integrated MP3-compatible radio/CD player, and the instruments are backlit in the same orange glow as those in the Cee'd. The driver's seat is now height-adjustable, too.

Right-hand-drive Picantos have now been engineered to take a 1.1-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel engine. Whether Kia actually decides to import it is another matter - it will all depend on what it's going to cost.

Prices for the face-lifted car have yet to be released, but are likely to go up when it comes on sale here in October.