New Kia Rio to spawn hot hatch?
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/kia/" rel="tag">Kia</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/uk/" rel="tag">UK</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/" rel="tag">Rumormill</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-kia-rio-geneva-2011/#3935670"><img alt="2012 Kia Rio" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/rio.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px 0px;" /></a><br />
<div class="iphone_hide" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic;">
2012 Kia Rio - Click above for high-res image gallery</div>
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According to <em>Autocar</em>, the minds at <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/kia">Kia</a> may be mulling the creation of a hot hatch based on the all-new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/rio">Rio</a>. The news has sprouted from comments made by Benny Oeyen, Kia marketing and product planning boss in Europe. Oeyen said that the brand's perception in the old country still lags behind the quality and design that the automaker currently has to offer, and that one way to rectify that problem is with a new vehicle that can help sway public opinion. Exactly what type of vehicle are we talking about here? Oeyen pointed to a hot hatch, cabriolet or coupe as viable options.<br />
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<em>Autocar</em> says that a hot hatch version of the Rio is the most likely of those options, thanks largely to the fact that the segment is booming in the UK. Kia just recently unveiled a Rio show car at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/categor/geneva-motor-show">Geneva Motor Show</a> that came with a few sportier touches, including a set of large alloy wheels.<br />
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Even if Kia does pull the trigger on a hot hatch version of the Rio, chances are that the vehicle would be a Euro-only offering. If you live in the land of the free, you'll have to turn to the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/veloster">Hyundai Veloster</a> for your Korean hot hatch fix.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-kia-rio-geneva-2011">2012 Kia Rio: Geneva 2011</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-kia-rio-geneva-2011/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/06kia-riogenflive_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-kia-rio-geneva-2011/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/05kia-riogenflive_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-kia-rio-geneva-2011/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/02kia-riogenflive_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-kia-rio-geneva-2011/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/10kia-riogenflive_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-kia-rio-geneva-2011/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/01kia-riogenflive_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Phot os copyright (C)2011 Noah Joseph / AOL</small></strong></em><br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=25586 5">Autocar</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/14/new-kia-rio-to-spawn-hot-hatch/">New Kia Rio to spawn hot hatch?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=25586 5>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/14/new-kia-rio-to-spawn-hot-hatch/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19878529/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/14/new-kia-rio-to-spawn-hot-hatch/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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