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Picanto comes of age

The all-new Kia Picanto, which made its global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, has been redesigned and re-engineered.  Longer than the previous model, and with an extended wheelbase, the new Picanto holds the promise of greater passenger comfort and increased cargo space.

Juding by the features and new design, the car is is set to completely redefine its position as one of the most competitive vehicles in the A-segment. "Following the tremendous success Picanto has shown in the South African market, our new Picanto aims to continue this legacy," said Kia SA chief Ray Levin.

"The new Picanto will stand out in this segment with an ultra modern exterior, a highly functional interior (with new and exciting features), as well as competitive performance and safety features. It is such a complete car, such a high quality package, offering numerous high-end features and, will raise the fundamental perception of A-segment models to a higher level." The five-door Picanto hatchback is the newest member to join this exciting and design driven Kia family.  Kia has taken a courageous new step with the latest version of its smallest model.  The character of the car has been transformed from ‘cute’ and ‘friendly’ into mature and handsome, designed to turn heads while prowling on the streets, thanks to its good looking proportions and dynamic design language.  Picanto in its newest form exudes a bold self confidence and maturity which is unique in the A-segment. While its ultra modern styling makes it stand out from the crowd, the new 3.6-meter long Picanto will also remain an extremely practical car.  On the outside, overall vehicle length has increased by 60 mm, and the wheelbase has grown by 15 mm.  These increases, and some clever interior packaging, have enhanced the cabin space for people (front legroom is up by 36 mm) and for cargo.  The length, width and height of the cargo space is increased by 64, 15 and 69 mm respectively, its capacity growing by 27% to 200 litres (VDA). The interior architecture shows the same chic functionality as the exterior with major controls arranged in an attractive and easy to use layout which emphasizes the width and space of the cabin.  The thick rimmed, uniquely designed, two-spoke steering wheel and the signature Kia ‘three cylinder’ instrument cluster with its clear and precise graphics, reflect the consistency with which Kia’s new design philosophy is being used throughout the brand’s product line-up. The new Picanto features stylish black cloth interior trim on all models. Features available on all models include manual air-conditioning, an under-floor trunk storage box, retractable dual cup holders and sun visors with vanity mirrors. A ‘gear shift indicator’ is available on al manual models to encourage an economical driving style by prompting you to change gears at the optimum point in the rev range. Other features that are standard include AUX/iPod/USB connections for the radio CD player with MP3 compatibility. A passenger seat storage tray is standard on both the 1.0 LX/ 1.2 EX for extra convenience. To add to this, an exciting new feature on the 1.0 LX and 1.2 EX: automatic light control with “welcome home and escort” modes. Unique to the 1.2 EX is steering wheel mounted controls and hands-free Bluetooth. The 1.2 EX model allows a little sunshine into your life with an optional sunroof.

Festival | XLR8R

Cut

Does anyone else remember the relaxed stylings of indie outfits like Tristeza or Sea and Cake? Imagine if those bands were still operating today, only with drum machines instead of traditional "rock" percussion, and you might get something pretty close to the sounds being created by Great Skies . The London artist recently released the Summer Moments EP on the increasingly impressive Cut label, an effort that makes us wonder if 2011 might be the year when chillwave grows up a bit. Sure, a song like "Festival" features some vaguely Balearic melodies paired with some fairly simple drum-machine beats, but it also displays a real level of refinement that's often absent from the dreck often being turned out by the legions of bedroom beatmakers operating with a similar sound palette. The entire four-song EP is available for free download here .

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