Kia Motors India operations to commence with Rio Sedan

Kia Motors recently inaugurated their plant in Andhra Pradesh, and will be starting production by the end of 2019. The automaker is likely to commence its operations in India with the Rio sedan which is going to be the first car to be produced by them for India.

Kia recently unveiled the new Rio sedan at the 2017 New York International Auto Show. The Rio is in its fourth generation being designed by Kia’s European and US design studios in collaboration with the design house in Namyang, South Korea.

Measuring 4384 mm in length, and having a wheelbase of 2580.64 mm, the Kia Rio sits on an all new platform. Under the hood, is a 1.6-litre petrol powered Gamma GDI four-cylinder engine that produces 130 HP of power and 148 Nm of torque. Transmission options include a six-speed manual and six-speed automatic.

The sedan is feature-loaded too, 15-inch alloys, seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC).

The India spec Rio will come with a diesel engine option too and will have high levels of localisation in the long term as it will share parts with the Hyundai Verna. The Rio sedan will rival C-segment sedans like the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento, Skoda Rapid and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz.