Kia Picanto Gets a Sporty Makeover with the GT Edition

The popular Kia Picanto is getting a sporty face-lift in 2023, as the South Korean company introduces the Picanto GT, combining a stylish exterior with advanced technology.

The Picanto GT’s presence is strengthened with a confident front end that emphasises sporty elements. The tiger nose grille has been expanded to maximise the look of high performance. The GT model also features new dedicated 16-inch diamond cut wheels and a sporty GT Line rear diffuser.

The new Picanto comes with the choice of two engines: a 1.0-litre or a 1.2-litre petrol engine. The 1.0-litre engine is a good choice for customers who value efficiency above all, while the 1.2-litre engine is better for customers who want more power, especially for open road driving. Both options maximise efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.

Both engines drive the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission or via Kia’s Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), which is based around a five-speed manual transmission with clutch and gear shift actuators to automate their respective functions.

The new Picanto comes with an 8.0-inch ‘floating’ touchscreen navigation system and a digital display in the driver’s instrument cluster. The vehicle’s 8.0-inch touchscreen navigation system features Bluetooth multi-connection, meaning users can pair up to two mobile devices at the same time – one for hands-free phone and media use, and the other for media use only.

Lastly, the new Picanto comes fully equipped with new over-the-air functionality, which delivers additional comfort for customers and will also save them time, as the navigation and infotainment systems are automatically kept up to date wirelessly – no action required. This is just one example of how Kia is establishing the basis for an enhanced and seamless connected experience by providing its customers the most advanced technology.

The new Picanto also features a variety of Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and a range of active safety systems to enhance occupant safety, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 1.5 (FCA) with vehicle, cyclist, and pedestrian detection. 

Additionally, the Picanto is available with Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning and Leading Vehicle Departure Warning (DAW+), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) and Lane Following Assist (LFA).

LFA uses the front-facing camera to monitor road markings, controlling the enhanced Picanto’s steering to keep the car in the centre of its lane. It also features Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) which alerts the driver and stops the vehicle if it detects another vehicle approaching from the left or right when reversing out of a parking space.

The new enhanced Kia Picanto, along with the GT mode, will be available in South Africa. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.