Kia reveals first design sketches from the new Picanto

With the Geneva Motor Show still four months away, Kia is already showing what the brand is preparing for next year’s show. The Korean brand has revealed the first design sketches of the next generation Picanto city car.

Having been designed by Kia's European creative team based in Frankfurt, led by Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, Kia hopes that the new city car will stand out from the crowd. With both the new Sportage and Optima saloon having been widely praised for their good looks, Peter Schreyer has been on a bit of a roll.

The new Picanto will take some design cues from the electric POP! Concept that lots of compliments after its debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show, including the gaping grille in the front bumper, wide arches and curving C-shaped lights at the back.

With its world premiere set for March at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show the new Picanto should arrive to the showrooms in May.

The Picanto will be sharing its mechanical underpinnings with the next-generation Hyundai i10, which will also arrive next year, with an improved engine line-up including an efficient three cylinder diesel. Although there has been no official talk about the introduction of the electric drivetrain from the POP! Concept, an eco-friendly model might make an appearance in 2012.