(April 21, 2011) NEW YORK — Kia today unveiled its restyled sub-compact 2012 Rio hatchback and sedan at the New York Auto Show. The Rio will go on sale this fall.

Like the mid-sized Optima, the new Rio has an eye-catching design and wears the new signature Kia grille.



“The all-new Rio brings Kia’s successful combination of world-class styling, outstanding fuel economy, advanced technologies and tremendous value to the smallest and most economical vehicle in the Kia lineup,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications. “With gas prices rising, sub-compacts are becoming increasingly more popular and with more power, up to 40 miles per gallon fuel economy and stunning design, the all-new Rio sets the standard in the sub-compact class and becomes a vehicle that is not only affordable, but one that people will aspire to own.”

Available in three trims — LX, EX and SX — the 2012 Rio comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with the option of either a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic. The Rio gives customers a combination of power and fuel efficiency, achieving a class-leading 138 horsepower while also maintaining a fuel economy rating of 30/40 mpg (city/highway).

Rio also offers a feature where the engine turns off when the vehicle is not in motion such as at a stop light or in traffic. The engine restarts automatically when the driver releases the brake pedal, resulting in lower levels of fuel consumption.

Adding further to Rio’s improved performance, engineers worked to reduce engine weight by 29 pounds over the previous generation by adding an aluminum valve cover and block to the third-generation Gamma engine, while incorporating cast iron lining for increased durability.

Conceived at Kia’s design studios in Irvine, Calif., the Rio sedan and hatchback exhibit sculpted sloping shoulder lines and wedge-shaped exteriors, projecting an athletic profile that conveys power and agility while mimicking the aggressive lines found on other recently launched Kia vehicles such as the 2011 Optima and Sportage.

Both Rio models sport their own interpretations of Kia’s signature grille, slimmed down to connect to the dynamic headlamp design, providing a new twist on the Kia family look that includes a bigger air intake to exude a youthful persona. The Rio sedan shares the sleek skin of its hatchback sibling, only dropping the wedge line slightly toward the rear door down to the trunk.