A FAMILY hatch with world leading fuel economy of almost 90 miles to the gallon has been announced by Kia.
With CO2 emissions of just 85g/km the new Rio will be the most frugal car on the road when it goes on sale in the autumn.
Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show alongside a new Picanto supermini the Rio is the most eco-friendly conventionally powered car ever to be developed.
Its CO2 output is lower than many a petrol/electric hybrid and even cleaner than the tiny smart car.
Powered by a 1.1-litre diesel engine and fitted with a stop/start system to save fuel in traffic, Kia says the Rio is capable of averaging 88.3mpg.
The engine develops 82bhp giving it a top speed of 100mph and a 0 to 60 time of 16.4 seconds.
More powerful versions using a 1.4-litre diesel or 1.25 and 1.4-litre petrol engines will also be available and all are exceptionally economical.
Like the 1.1 diesel, the 1.4 is below the 100g/km tax free threshold averaging more than 80mpg while the petrols will return around 60 to the gallon but are not quite as green.
Both the Rio and the Picanto are sharply styled with swish interiors reflecting Kia’s shift upmarket with the quality and appearance of its cars.
The Korean company’s new design theme first seen on the Sportage SUV last year is carried forward on to the smaller models giving both distinctive noses.
The Rio is larger than its predecessor and also has a bigger boot at 288 litres making it more than a rival to the likes of the VW Polo and Ford Fiesta.
Initially it will be sold with a five-door bodystyle with a three-door version coming in at the start of next year.
The smaller Picanto will also be available as a three-door for the first time signalling Kia’s intention to make the car appeal to younger drivers.
It too is bigger than the original which was launched in 2004 and will come with big car features including automatic air conditioning, electronic stability controls and hill start assist.
The Picanto will use only petrol engines – a 1.25-litre and a three-cylinder 1.0-litre – which are claimed to be good for around 65mpg on average.
The Picanto is due to go on sale before the summer and although prices are still to be confirmed it is likely to cost from below £10,000. The Rio will be more expensive but will be priced to compete with the Fiesta.
Kia also announced at Geneva that it had developed a turbo version of its new 1.0-litre petrol engine boosting its power output from 69 to 110PS and plans were in place for its introduction in the summer of 2012.