Kia Picanto drops a pair

Kia’s new Picanto is now available in much cooler, more youthful three-door form. At least in Europe. According to wheels’ sources, there are currently no plans to bring the new three-door Picanto to the GCC, but all that may change so we’ll keep you informed. As for the lucky European buyers, their Picanto is still available in all equipment trims as before – GCC gets four trim levels with the base available with a manual ‘box – with the new three-door going on sale in Europe as of October. Everything else stays the same, including the 1.2-litre engine packing 86bhp and a four-speed automatic transmission, but of course the major change is in the already eye-catching styling. Shedding two doors means the new Picanto acquires a sportier character – highlighted also by the red accents on its signature Kia grill in these photos - while still providing seating for five adults since the car’s dimensions are exactly the same as the five-door version’s. The car’s rising beltline also cuts a much sharper profile with the rear glass and C-pillar taking on an entirely new form. Yes, it might ruin the blind spot a bit, but it’s a trade-off we’d gladly take. Looks like the Ford Fiesta and the Mazda 2 finally have some styling competition in the supermini segment.