Kia Rio
Published Nov 2, 2005
0 Ratings
What Is It?
Kia Rio
What's Special About It?
Kia no longer wants to be known for just cheap, basic transportation. And if the racy Kia Rios at this year's SEMA show are any indicator, the Korean company has taken a step toward fulfilling its desire.
"We're taking the brand and adding some zip," says Len Hunt, Kia's new chief operating officer. "We want to give customers a chance to customize on a great base platform."
The platform for these eye-catching show cars is the new 2006 Kia Rio in both sedan and Rio5 hatchback form. The "Blue Missile" Rio sedan created by Street Concepts is true blue through and through, from its blue candy show paint to its blue carbon-fiber dash and door panels. Accenting the look is a silver instrument panel and center console overlay, and a Borg Warner turbocharger ups the horsepower from 110 hp to over 200 hp. Sparco racing seats help drivers strap in for the ride.
Dubbed the "Orange Blur," the Strauss Haus Rio5 show car is coated in bright orange paint. Built as an entertainment center on wheels, the Blur features a custom 3,000-watt Kenwood audio system with three amplifiers and four subwoofers which replace the rear seat. Selecting the tunes is an iPod Nano which is integrated into the center console. Like the Rio sedan, it gets a 200-plus-hp turbocharger, from Borg Warner as well.
What's Edmunds' Take?
The SEMA show isn't just about getting attention, it's also a great place to test-drive some future production ideas. Last year's SEMA show resulted in the current Kia Spectra body kit, and it's likely some of the Rio bits could make production as well. Since the Borg Warner setup is doubling the horsepower of the stock Rio, we say leave the show paint behind and bring on the turbocharger. — Kelly Toepke
Kia Rio
What's Special About It?
Kia no longer wants to be known for just cheap, basic transportation. And if the racy Kia Rios at this year's SEMA show are any indicator, the Korean company has taken a step toward fulfilling its desire.
"We're taking the brand and adding some zip," says Len Hunt, Kia's new chief operating officer. "We want to give customers a chance to customize on a great base platform."
The platform for these eye-catching show cars is the new 2006 Kia Rio in both sedan and Rio5 hatchback form. The "Blue Missile" Rio sedan created by Street Concepts is true blue through and through, from its blue candy show paint to its blue carbon-fiber dash and door panels. Accenting the look is a silver instrument panel and center console overlay, and a Borg Warner turbocharger ups the horsepower from 110 hp to over 200 hp. Sparco racing seats help drivers strap in for the ride.
Dubbed the "Orange Blur," the Strauss Haus Rio5 show car is coated in bright orange paint. Built as an entertainment center on wheels, the Blur features a custom 3,000-watt Kenwood audio system with three amplifiers and four subwoofers which replace the rear seat. Selecting the tunes is an iPod Nano which is integrated into the center console. Like the Rio sedan, it gets a 200-plus-hp turbocharger, from Borg Warner as well.
What's Edmunds' Take?
The SEMA show isn't just about getting attention, it's also a great place to test-drive some future production ideas. Last year's SEMA show resulted in the current Kia Spectra body kit, and it's likely some of the Rio bits could make production as well. Since the Borg Warner setup is doubling the horsepower of the stock Rio, we say leave the show paint behind and bring on the turbocharger. — Kelly Toepke