Engine, Transmission, and Safety
The Picanto comes with a choice of petrol
engines – a 1.0 and a 1.1 SOHC litre powerplant – that offer an
excellent blend of sporty performance and outstanding fuel economy. The
1.0 litre engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The 1.1
litre plant is available with either a five-speed manual or a four speed
automatic transmission. The Picanto is also one of the most efficient
cars in its class in terms of CO2 emissions. The 1.0 litre engine
produces 120 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre. The 1.1 version
generates a miserly 130 g/km in the manual version and 153 g/km in the
automatic version.
The 1.1 engine provides 64 ps at 5,500
rpm and 9.8 kgm of torque at 4,000 rpm, making the Picanto one of the
most powerful cars in its class. The 1.0 provides 60 ps and 8.8 kgm of
torque. Highly efficient and lightweight, the engines promise dynamic
performance and excellent fuel economy.
According to internal tests, the Picanto
1.0L can achieve up to 56.5 mpg, go from 0-100 km/h in 15.8 seconds and
will reach a maximum speed of 152 km/h where traffic regulations allow.
A 1.1 litre diesel version of the Picanto
is planned for release in 2005. Projected figures indicate that the
engine will provide 70 ps and will keep CO2 emissions down to 116 g/km.
Transmission
The five speed manual gearbox is fitted
with a hydraulic clutch for smooth, effortless shifting and optimum gear
ratios that suit a wide range of driving conditions.
Braking
The Picanto’s braking system features
241 mm ventilated discs on the front wheels to prevent heat build-up and
deliver sure and stable braking performance. The brake system will bring
the Picanto to a dead stop in only 41 metres from 62 mph.
The Picanto’s standard ABS system
allows the driver to apply maximum brake force to all four wheels
without locking them out and thus to maintain full control of the car
even when the brake pedal is fully depressed.
The ABS system incorporates an electronic
brake force distributor (EBD), helping to distribute braking force
evenly among all four wheels by regulating the number of pumps required
to prevent skidding. The system is also able to adapt to wheel grip
conditions, adding a further degree of control and reducing pad heating.
The Picanto’s impressive interior space
and fuel economy is aided significantly by the inclusion of an instant
mobility system (IMS) that obviates the need for a spare wheel and saves
around 20 kg in weight.
The IMS allows the driver to repair a
flat in less than 10 minutes without jacking up the car, compared to
about 30 minutes to replace a wheel. This means the driver spends less
time in the potential danger zone at the side of the road.
Driver and passenger airbags are
installed as standard, protecting the driver from injury in the event of
a frontal collision. Side and passenger airbags are also available.
Three-point seatbelts are fitted to front
and rear seats, including the rear centre seat in the five-seat version.
Front seatbelts are height adjustable for greater security and a more
comfortable fit and have pretensioners and load limiters to tighten the
seat belt in the event of a collision. To meet regulations relating to
the fitting of child safety seats, an ISOFIX anchor point is fitted in
European models.
Kia has a reputation for packing a lot of
car into a value price range, and the Picanto takes that reputation a
stage further.
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