Kia has released the first pictures of the latest version of its Fiesta and Yaris rival, ahead of its imminent debut at Geneva.
The new design is comfortably in line with Kia's latest styling trends but we're not convinced that it has quite the same level of flair as a Fiesta or Mazda2 for instance, but there's no denying that it's a great improvement over the current Rio.
Same goes for its dimensions, the new Rio being 55mm longer, 25mm wider and 15mm taller while the wheelbase has grown by 70mm to offer a decent increase in passenger space.
On the engine front, there is a more powerful range-topper in the form of a 103kW 1.6-litre direct injection petrol unit, but the big news here is of a 1.2-litre direct injection turbo petrol unit that will join the range in 2012.
Those seeking the ultimate in efficiency can look forward to a new 1.1-litre turbodiesel that makes 52kW and emits just 85g/km of CO2.
The exact South African engine line-up will be confirmed closer to the vehicle's launch, which is likely to take place around the third quarter of this year.
Kia promises that the cabin will deliver a higher level of quality (they use the now clichéd 'large car' comparison here) although no pictures of the interior have been released yet. The company will also offer a larger variety of trim levels this time around.
The five door version you see here will also be joined by a four-door sedan and, for the first time in a Rio, some markets will also get a sportier three-door variant.