The all-new Kia Picanto has been unveiled to European media for the first time ahead of its public debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Set to go on sale across Europe from the start of Q2 2017, the third-generation Kia Picanto brings a new, more ‘youthful and energetic character to the A-segment’. It’s also available, for the first time, in a new ‘GT-Line’ specification, inspired by the sportier appearance of the company’s higher-performance ‘GT’ models.

In GT-Line specification, the exterior of the new Picanto is completed with red, silver and black highlights in the grille, side intakes, along the side skirts and in the rear valance, as well as chrome-tipped twin exhausts.

The new Picanto will be powered by one of three petrol engines, including Kia’s new 1.0-litre turbocharged gasoline direct injection (T-GDI) power unit. When the new 1.0-litre T-GDI engine goes on sale towards the end of 2017, it will be the most powerful engine ever offered in the Picanto, and the first time this car has offered a turbocharged petrol engine.

The five-door  hatchback, with an all-steel construction bodyshell and a choice of petrol three- and four-cylinder engines, will be front wheel driven via five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission – depending on model.

Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Europe, comments: “The Picanto is one of Kia’s best-selling models around the world, and has a particularly strong fan base here in Europe.