An Ecocar's opposition
- Kia has issued official pictures of its all-new A-segment city-car ahead of its debut in Geneva next month, revealing for the first time the second-generation Picanto will also be available in three-door hatch form, albeit only in the European market; elsewhere it gets the usual five-door.
- No technical information was released, but sources suggest the Picanto will grow in body size, especially with a longer wheelbase, to additionally accommodate a more modern-looking package. Its average weight is likely to stay under one tonne. The Picanto is a result of cooperation with sister brand Hyundai, which sells its version in the form of the i10.
- It has been announced that there will be 1.0- and 1.2-litre petrol, LPG and E85-friendly engines for the new Picanto. The model available in Thai showrooms comes with a 65hp 1.1-litre four-pot motor, sips E10 gasohol and faces 30% excise tax.
- Although the Picanto has the attributes to qualify as an Ecocar, Kia isn't among the brands that have applied for tax breaks under the Ecocar project (nor is Hyundai). Despite the first-gen Picanto being an import in Thailand, its parent firm has helped subsidise prices to the tune of some 400,000 baht per car - but only on a fixed quota basis. Over the past four years, only 1,000 units have been sold.
Picanto has evolved in a modern manner.
ONE LAST THING: An alternative for Kia to make the Picanto competitive in Thailand is to build it in any other Asean nation, ship it in duty free via Afta benefits and enjoy the 22% excise rate on E85-capable cars; Ecocar faces 17%.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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