New Kia Rio upgrades revealed

MANILA: Kia Motors has officially confirmed the essential upgrades involved in the fourth-generation Kia Rio. The upgraded model features innovative safety and telematics, a refreshed design, and newly electrified powertrains — all defining the strengths of the car, such as technology, quality, and practicality.

The set of upgrades also aimed at bolstering the position of the Kia Rio within the highly competitive B-segment. The updated Rio will be on sale in European countries by the third quarter of 2020 and will be rolled out, possibly in the Philippines, in the near future.

For the first time, the Kia Rio is powered by a petrol mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) powertrain. The new "EcoDynamics" powertrain matches with the new Smartstream 1.0L T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine with the 48V MHEV system of Kia. This enables the maximization of fuel efficiency with regenerative braking and electric torque assistance.

The Rio EcoDynamics+ is considered to be one of the pioneer Kia models to have the new intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) of the auto brand. The clutch-by-wire system supplements the lower CO2 emissions and improved fuel efficiency of the MHEV system while maintaining the enhanced driveability of the traditional manual transmission.

The system enhances the torque output of the engine with power coming from a compact 48-volt lithium-ion polymer battery. The new mild-hybrid starter-generator (MHSG) unit is attached through a belt to the crankshaft of the engine and changes smoothly between "motor" and "generator" modes. Under the motor mode, the MHSG delivers electric power assistance to lessen emissions and engine load when the car is accelerating.

The new Smartstream engine is a replacement to the earlier ‘Kappa’-generation 1.0L T-GDi of the Rio. Among a wide range of advancements, it also contains the advanced continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) technology of the Kia. The CVVD technology allows the engine to switch smoothly between varied combustion cycles according to the load, increasing the efficiency during driving.

The Smarstream engine generates power similar to the previous Kappa engine line—98hp or 118hp—yet allows 16% higher peak torque output for 118hp variants (200Nm).

Similar to EcoDynamics+ models, the Rio model lineup is currently offered in Europe with the option of Smartstream petrol engines—the new 98hp 1.0L T-GDi engine and a new form of the naturally aspirated 1.2-liter engine of Kia, having advanced Dual Port Injection technology and a power output of 83hp.

The engineers of the auto company have also enhanced the Idle Stop & Go (ISG) system of Rio. The new brake-linked ISG system promotes improved fuel economy and reduced emissions since the engine is switched off when both the clutch pedal and the brake are lowered as the vehicle stops.

The upgraded Kia Rio also has an improved touchscreen satellite navigation system. It is also regarded as one of the first Kia models in Europe to deliver the advanced Phase II UVO Connect telematics system of the brand. This improved vehicle control and connectivity, which, in turn, eliminates stress and hassle during travel.

The Rio provides drivers accessibility to a collection of Phase II on-board services, aside from availability, location, price, information on potential off-street and on-street parking, fuel prices, points of interest (POIs), weather forecasts, and live traffic details. The system also contains server-supported online voice recognition, which allows users to send text messages; look for nearby POIs, weather updates, and addresses; and provide voice commands hands-free.

In terms of its refreshed design, the upgraded Rio maintains the classic "tiger-nose" grille of the vehicle, tightened for a more emphasized appearance is paired to new fog lamp housing and lower and broader front bumper. Such modifications provide the front part of the vehicle with a seamless, more functional appearance and instill it with more confidence on the road. All models are now equipped with new complete LED headlamps with essential running lights.

Two new exterior colors are revealed for the upgraded Rio, namely, Sporty Blue and Perennial Gray. These are the latest additions to the nine paint palette options of the vehicle, which depends on the market and specification. The enhanced model also features a new eight-spoke 16-inch alloy wheel design.

Moreover, the updated Kia Rio features numerous new active safety systems to improve driver and passenger safety. These advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) include blind collision warning (BCW), driver attention warning (DAW), lane keeping assist (LKA), forward collision-avoidance assist (FCA) with vehicle, pedestrian, and newly-launched cyclist recognition.

The ADAS range of the Rio also includes the new version of the Kia FCA system, namely, lane following assist (LFA), smart cruise control (SCC), intelligent speed limit warning (ISLW), and blind-spot collision-avoidance assist (BCA). The updated Rio is also equipped with the rear occupant alert (ROA) and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist (RCCA).

As standard, the upgraded Rio features Kia’s straight-line stability (SLS), cornering brake control (CBC), electronic stability control (ESC), and vehicle stability management (VSM) to aid drivers in retaining control while cornering or braking.

Photos from Kia

Also read: Kia PH dealerships open with new safety protocols, promos