Picanto for under $13,000

KIA Motors Australia is set to stir up the popular light-car segment with $12,990-driveaway pricing for its approaching Picanto.

Although not officially confirmed for Australia, the diminutive five-door hatchback seems almost certain to see the light of day sometime in the second quarter of 2007.

"There is no impediment to the Picanto coming (to Australia)," says Kia's director of marketing, Bill Gillespie.

The Picanto's arrival, in 48kW/97Nm 1.1-litre four-cylinder five-door hatchback guise, would give Kia a three-pronged light-car attack, as it would slot beneath the just-announced $14,990-driveaway Rio LX, as well as the existing $15,990 Rio LS.

The Rio LX ditches the LS' 82kW/145Nm 1.6-litre engine for a 71kW/126Nm 1.4-litre unit. It is also expected to have some subtle specification alterations.

"We need a $2000 difference between the Picanto and Rio," Mr Gillespie revealed to GoAuto last week.

"It all looks very positive," he added.