- The K2 debuted Tuesday at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show; it's for China only.
- Kia says the K2 is part of its push to become "a leading automotive brand in China."
- The K2 is based on the redesigned 2012 Kia Rio, which arrives in the U.S. this fall.
SHANGHAI, China — The Kia K2, a new B-segment model based on the redesigned Kia Rio, debuted on Tuesday at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. Intended for the Chinese market only, the K2 illustrates Kia's global strategy of custom-tailoring products for local markets.
"K2 represents the next phase in Kia's strategy to better satisfy customers in various regions of the world by developing and marketing products that reflect local tastes and needs," said Kia in a statement.
The new subcompact draws on styling cues from the Kia Optima — sold as the K5 in China — and will go on sale in June. A five-door hatchback version of the K2 is slated to go on sale in China in August. It was developed with Dongfeng Yueda Kia, Kia's joint venture partner.
The K2 will be available in six trim levels. It will be equipped with either a 1.4-liter or 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a manual or automatic transmission, said Kia.
Inside Line says: We're not sweating the fact that we won't get the K2. The 2012 Rio will likely be better equipped when it arrives in the third quarter of 2011. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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jyym says:
10:36 PM, 04/19/2011
Don't know how anyone can call this "overstyled" since it has basically clean, simple lines.
The new Rio is comparatively more overstyled and the new Accent even more so.
Having said that, these lines don't work nearly as well on a truncated platform as it does on the larger Optima.
mk40 says:
08:23 PM, 04/19/2011
It does look similar in shape to the Fiesta in hatchback form (the 3rd pic seems to have disappeared here), but the Kia's look more dressed up... Better trimmed.. particularly the nose. The detailing is better.
The Fiesta still looks like the trim came from the old Taurus a couple generations back.. particular the nose. Very bland trim. They can do better and it wouldn't take much. The body itself.... the metal.. I think the Ford is a actually a little nicer in sedan form... there's something about the proportions of the Fiesta sedan that looks better & more dynamic to me.
Not a fan of Kia's new wheel design.
easym1 says:
08:22 PM, 04/19/2011
kia must be doing right, they've been selling their cars like hot cake.
rayzor says:
07:58 PM, 04/19/2011
Not bad! :)
jscion says:
05:05 PM, 04/19/2011
What are all of you talking about?!?! I think this car looks great!!! From the back, it almost looks like a 90's Civic.
lsobboh says:
03:59 PM, 04/19/2011
@ juan_mx
"KIA's Fiesta"
Literally exactly what I was thinking. I'm not one to take the hard work of car designers for granted by saying that they copied, but seriously KIA?
subiext6 says:
02:18 PM, 04/19/2011
um.. it looks like a raccoon?
glsligar says:
01:48 PM, 04/19/2011
Did anyone notice the 3rd pic of the white Rio is a SEDAN, not a hatch.. The front facia is slightly different than the hatch. The grill is bigger and more v-shaped without the scallop running underneath also the rear door frames at the roofline and C-pillar differ from the hatch. It seems there may be more than one version of the Rio sedan. Which one will the US get???
juan_mx says:
01:25 PM, 04/19/2011
KIA'a Fiesta
wikiwiki says:
01:17 PM, 04/19/2011
Over-styled. Korea = Reliable Asian Pontiacs?????