Kia Picanto GT-Line | Stylish and Smart Small Car

Source: www.kia.com.au

In the growing of small car market, KIA has added new Picanto GT- Line with their small car series in 2018. Compete in the small car market is not the easy thing these days. There are lots of competitor for Picanto GT-Line, including its own sibling Picanto S.

KIA just keeps on giving. The award-winning model already gains the market popularity compare to its competitors where most of them largely remaining static due to low sales volume. According to the micro car selling statistics, Kia Picanto continues to grow in popularity in May 2018 where it accounted for 62.3 per cent of all micro car sales (460 units) and is up 67.7 per cent year-to-date for that period (2018 v 1203 units).

Bold and Stylish Exterior

Source: www.kia.com.au

The first look at the new Kia Picanto GT-Line car will make you think to buy the car. It has the brand new design with new additional features compared to its last generation. The sporty look and bold design with the dynamic lines and contours give it an eye-catching look from the outside.

With the aggressive bumpers in the front and rear, 16-inch alloy wheels, dusk sensing automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, a GT-Line body kit and with the whole thing topped off by a set of twin exhaust tips give it a new look.

 Eye Catchy Interior 

Source: www.kia.com.au

The interior of the all-new Picanto has been redesigned and equipped with the latest technology. The design of the dash is quite attractive with the centred touch display screen and an instrument pod in front of the driver. Numerous controls are positioned on the wheel which is adding the extra benefits to the driver. 

The premium quality leather sits with red accents, and the proper amount of head and leg space inside the car feels very comfortable as we cannot overlook the fact that it’s a small car. Also, the leather look steering wheel, alloy sports pedals, and a six-speaker audio system make it more like a standard car.

A Lightweight Engine

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2018_Kia_Picanto_GT-Line_S_-_Engine_1.jpg

Under the bonnet of new Picanto GT-Line has the same engine as its previous variant Picanto S. A 62kW/122Nm 1.25-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is good enough to run in the city. What is the absent is there is no manual transmission variant of new Picanto GT-Line.

Kia officially claims that the new Picanto has the mileage of 5.8L/100km where there are different opinions on that. The good thing is it has a 35L fuel tank which means you won't have to spend much at the pump. Despite small engine, it is capable of carrying up to 1010L by folding the rear seats down.

Safety Features 

Source: www.kia.com.au

Safety-wise the Picanto is pretty impressive despite its four-star (out of five) ANCAP safety rating. The all-new Picanto comes with advanced high strength steel. The rigidity of its reinforced chassis provides safety, improves stability, handling and lowers Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels. 

Adding autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with a forward collision warning system (FCWS) in such a small car make it safer than ever. Also, rear parking sensors and a rearview camera with dynamic parking guidelines are standard across the range ensuring secure parking.

Offer from KIA

Kai has announced seven years unlimited kilometre warranty with all-new Picanto. It’s the best offer compare to the competitor.

Kia Picanto GT-Line is the most stylish and advances small city car. Its new added features give a higher rank compared to others. There are no issues getting up to city speeds with decent pace, and the four-speed auto generally shifts smoothly and intuitively considering the limited ratios.

If you’re looking for an affordable small car, the Kia Picanto GT-Line 2018 is well worth looking into, so come down to Chadstone KIA, your trusted dealer in Melbourne to discuss your needs and find out more!

Concept KIA Vehicles

Concept cars are designed to showcase daring new ideas and technologies. They are generally presented to consumers at car shows and other automotive events, and used to gauge reactions. Car manufacturers can use this feedback when designing vehicles in future.

Here are some of our favourite KIA concepts cars designed over the past decade or so, moving forward in time.

Kia Kee (2007)

Image Source: www.kia.com.au

Going all the way back to 2007 we have the sleek, eye-catching coupe – the Kee. Unlike many concept cars, this vehicle was actually quite realistic. With a 2.7 V6 engine and 6-speed transmission, it has various elements that have influenced the KIA road vehicles of today.

Kia Ray (2010)

Image Source: www.topspeed.com

Released in 2010, the Ray is a classic example of a daring concept car with futurist design elements. Looking as much like a spaceship as it does a road car, this four-seat prototype was put together with recycled materials, and was in fact inspired by aircraft designs.

Efficiency was the primary concern here – this is a plug-in hybrid vehicle with a fuel economy rating of 86 km per litre. It also reflects sunlight, meaning there is less of a need to burn energy using an air conditioner. KIA really thought of everything here.

Kia Track’ster (2012)

Image Source: www.kia.com.au

The highly praised Track’ster caused a lot of buzz at the time. The reason behind this will be clear when you find out the making concept of Kia Track’ster. We now understand this was a sampl e of the direction that KIA has since taken with its Soul models. 

Described as being ‘tough’ and ‘like a bulldog’ by its chief designer, the Trickster is great to look at and has a strong engine to back it up, boasting a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 186 Kilowatts of power! We would have loved to see this one mass produced.

Kia Niro (2013)

The Kia Niro, which was presented at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, is a sleek, compact vehicle with vertical doors and front-wheel-drive capability. Featuring a 1.6-litre engine and seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission, the Niro has been designed to rival smaller European compact cars of a similar type.

Kia Trail’ster (2015)

Image Source: www.topspeed.com

The Trail’ster was Kia’s most rugged concept Kia Cars when it was introduced back in 2015. This off-road beast comes with a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, delivering up to 220 hp and an electric all-wheel-drive (e-AWD) system with 1.2 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery powering a 27 kW electric motor. It’s a true off-road concept king with a rough and tough exterior and a breathtakingly refined interior.

Kia Niro-EV (2018)

Image Source: www.kia.com.au

The descendant of Kia Niro is the newest addition to the KIA fleet. The Niro-EV was first revealed at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2018. It’s a real car of the future; not so long ago virtual reality, self-driving cars, and full vehicle connectivity were all considered technologies of the distant future. 

But the Niro-EV features innovative human-machine interface and advanced ‘motion graphic’ lighting systems, giving us a glimpse at the future. Apart from the spectacular design and futuristic concept, this beauty includes the world’s first in-car 5G connection as well.



Concept cars are the perfect examples for years of R&D efforts coming to life. Kia is always bringing the future closer with their innovations.

5 Car Accessories to Keep You Safe on the Road

As we’ve discussed in our previous blog posts, road safety remains one of the biggest concerns for the community and is something we are working towards improving on an ongoing basis. More often than not, these efforts start at the individual level; driving in a responsible way and looking to obey road laws at all times. Interestingly, there are a number of car accessories developed by KIA and other providers that can help you be safer on the road. This article will go through just a few of them.

Blind Spot Mirrors

If you’re a driver, you’ll be well aware of what the blind spot is and how it needs to be checked by a full turn of the head while driving, particularly when changing lanes. Located in the back right and back left or the vehicle, this is a part of the road that you can’t see with mirrors or in your peripherals.

These 2-inch blind spot mirrors are attached to your standard side mirrors and are angled in such a way that you can see exactly what’s happening all around the car with a simple glance to the side, rather than a head turn.

Seatbelt Cutter/Window Breaker

While chances are you’ll never need it, the Rescue Me seatbelt cutter and Window Breaker is a handy tool to have in the case of emergencies. There are a number of cases where accidents have left passengers in a car trapped and unable to climb out - the door may be unable to be opened or the seatbelt may be stuck. 

Keeping this device in your car can help you out of these kinds of situations as it will quickly and efficiently cut your seatbelt and break the windshield or window glass, providing a means of escape.

For a better understanding of seatbelt cutter, you can check out this video.

Dashboard Video Recorder

This may not actively prevent an accident, but it can certainly save you from a lot of headaches if there is some kind of dispute between yourself and another motorist. If you’re in an accident for instance and it is not clear who is at fault or exactly what happened, the video recorder will help set the record straight.

Further, it stands to reason that in the future all cars will be fitted with cameras, ensuring that we have as much information about what’s happening on our roads and make informed decisions about how to improve safety.

Are you interested to know about dashboard cameras? Then watch out this worthy video. 

Rain Repellent

Rainy weather conditions often contribute to poor visibility, which can certainly contribute to drivers making mistakes which can potentially lead to accidents. Rain-X Rain Repellent might sound too good to be true, but it can help keep the rain off your windshield and improve visibility significantly. 

Applied to your windscreen before you hit the road, it causes the rain to slide off the glass once it lands. When used together with your windshield wipers, it can be highly effective.

The attached video shows the test and review of Rain Repellent. Click this to know much more about it.

Emergency Kit

You never know what’s going to happen when you’re out on the road; so having a road emergency kit in the boot is always a good idea. Usually, these packs will include first aid kit including bandages and scissors, duct tape, various tools such as screwdrivers, a flashlight, a rain poncho and safety vest, cable ties and possibly even rations.

These items can be purchased in a package or separately, but they can be well worth having with you not just for your own safety, but for that of other motorists if you happen to come across the aftermath of an accident on the road.

These are just a few of the extra accessories on the market that can help you stay safer when driving and also don't forget to scrutinise your car from authorised Kia service Centre. For more information about available Kia accessories and service related queries, talk to the team at Chadstone Kia today.

Top 7 Important Things to Check Before a Road Trip

Whether it is business or pleasure, it is always a great moment to head out on a road trip. The promise of a change of scenery is among the paramount lures of the open road.

Every driver expects to have a headache-free trip. Occasionally, the driver may get soo much pre-occupied on the obligations at hand. Thus, they may end up forgetting to perform a little upkeep before hitting the pavement.

In general, the most critical aspect of your vacation is having a smooth errand. Nailing down on the key areas of your automobile will increase the chances of arriving at your destination in order. In this article, we have listed the prerequisites that need to be addressed adequately

1. Check the tires for trends and pressure

Read the rubber. Inspect tires to make sure they're not unevenly worn. Also, it is important to check the amount of tread left on all the four tires. Your tires should accomplish maximum traction in all weather conditions.

Another significant checkup is the tire pressure. Ensure the figures are set on counts to the recommendations outlined on the driver fuel filler door.

2. Lighting

It's an offence in law to have a defective lighting, especially before a night journey. Obligatory lights need being frequently checked. These lights are - Side and tail lights.

• Headlamps

• Direction indicators

• Stop lights and a rear number-plate light

When fitted, the long-range lights, hazard warning lights, and fog lights should also be working optimally.

3. Engine oil and coolant

No doubt that you read the manufacturer's oil-change manual, don't you? Check the date due to change the engine oil. Be sure to use only the right-quality oil to avoid unnecessary engine malfunction.

Also, it costs nothing to check if the under-hood coolant reservoir is topped off. However, it's not a good idea to mix up different coolants. The owners’ manual recommends using the coolant type that is already in the engine.

4. Check for leaks in the hydraulic hoses

Check and replace any blisters or bulges on the hoses which are a sign of a weakness in the wall. Check all hose connections to ensure that all clips are cutting into the rubber.

As a precaution, ensure your glove compartment has a new hose-patch kit. When pinhole leaks in the hydraulic line, relieve the pressure before taking any further step. Of course, no driver will enjoy being stranded in the middle of nowhere.

5. Brake System

Brake fluid is a hygroscopic mineral, meaning it absorbs moisture as it ages. Moisture in the braking fluid will have a corrosive effect on braking components. Check the colour of the brake fluid which tends to turn to Marple syrup when it attracts moisture.

If you are at it and the condition is questionable, address it right away. If you haven't had a flush at it for some time, top off the brake reservoir to the full mark. You may also resolve on having your service station inspecting the car's brake pads and replacing them in case they are worn out.

6. Gas Cap

Every driver should ensure the gas cap is securely fastened to the fuel tank. It plays an important role in spillage of gases, evaporation, and contamination of the gas tank.

To help the driver monitor the gas cap, the car has a check fuel cap lighting. The lighting illuminates as soon as it senses a default in the fuel cap.

Quickly determine the problem in case the check fuel cap lighting comes on. In some cases, it may require the services of a top-rated mobile mechanic for easy replacement and repair.

7. Catalytic Converter

A catalytic converter is an essential component in automobiles as we all raise to conserve the environment. The converter transforms the exhaust fumes into a less poisonous gas. If your automobile is equipped with the OBDII Code Reader, it will be easier to discover any malfunction.

It's also important to visually check the converter. You should be able to light it up well to trace any loose material.

A malfunctioning catalytic converter is not an issue you can afford to ignore. It may result in the fuel mileage dropping unrealistically. The acceleration may be compromised, or the car fails to start at all.

How to check your car with OBDII Scanner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9-6dkjMmQ4

To get started, turn off the engine. Locate the Data Link Connector under the dash. If you have trouble locating the connector, refer to the owner's manual.

Plug the OBDII Code Reader cable to the DLC pot. This pot is usually located underneath the steering column.

Most of the scanners need to be powered externally so switch on the ignition cylinder. If your device does not auto-activate itself, turn it on. The scanner should begin communicating with the computers in your automobile.

At this point, press the "scan" button to begin the code retrieval process. However, the button layout differs in different models, and it is therefore important to refer the device's handbook.

Read through the trouble codes displayed on the screen. Some of the OBDII code Reader devices support a device-to-desktop connectivity. It's a great privilege if your scanner supports connectivity as the codes will be easily covered in your desktop handbook.

Understand the trouble codes

Some of the generic codes apply to all OBDII Code Reader models. However, there are some manufacturer specifics which you need to learn. Referring to the repair manual can also give a meaningful information about those subsystem codes.

Important Note

Accessing the trouble codes will not turn off the car engine light. The engine light interacts with all sensors throughout your car. If the recorded malfunction is unfixed, the light will always be on.

In conclusion, even experienced road trippers get caught up in an emergency situation. Before departing take a detailed approach to everything you need for your journey. In fact, the list evolves into a spectacular wayfinding idea to make your endeavours even more accomplishing.