Kia Picanto city car is in for a mid-cycle refresh, three years after production
of the third generation commenced. The tiny hatchback was spied testing in the
cold recently, and for what is essentially a simple facelift, the prototype did
wear thick camouflage.
Most of the body panels were
hidden away under wraps, yet we do expect the final product to bring the usual
updates consisting of redesigned front and rear bumpers. From the spy shots, we see that there are new
tail lamp graphics while the headlamps seem to be revised as well. New exterior
colors and perhaps different alloy wheels should complete the styling on the
outside.
The interior of the 2021
Picanto was partially covered up, suggesting that the Korean automaker will
perform some changes to the dashboard. If it’s one thing that might be
improved, then that’s the infotainment system. We would also expect the cabin
to bring new upholstery and trimmings.
As it should remain on sale
for at least two to three years, the facelifted Picanto might receive some
tweaks focusing on improving fuel economy and reducing carbon dioxide
emissions. The outgoing iteration packs three small petrol engines in different
outputs, paired to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Some say
that the Picanto might be turned into an electric vehicle, but that’s planned
for the fourth generation.