Kia Picanto – Malaysia to get KX, GT Line with AEB?

Here’s some interesting news – photos of a brochure of what is purportedly the updated Kia Picanto lineup have found their way onto the Kia Picanto Club Malaysia Facebook group, and they show two new models that will be joining the current 1.2 EX variant.

These include an entry-level, low-spec KX as well as a sportier-looking, top-of-the-line GT Line with a few added goodies – the latter, if you remember, was shown in Malaysia last year as a preview for the A-segment hatch. Both cars retain the same 1.2 litre Kappa II naturally-aspirated petrol engine making 84 PS at 6,000 rpm and 122 Nm at 4,000 rpm, paired to a four-speed automatic transmission.

We’ll start with the KX, which drops a number of items for a lower price. The EX’s premium-looking projector halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights will be replaced with simple reflector units, as have the LED tail lights. There will also be no front fog lights, wing mirror indicators or chrome door handles, and the 14-inch alloys will be swapped with steel wheels with plastic caps.

Other features to be removed are keyless entry, push-button start, leather-wrapped steering wheel (just polyurethane here, but still with multifunction controls), reverse camera, auto-up function for the driver’s side window and, amazingly, rear power windows.

As for infotainment, the EX’s segment-leading seven-inch touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will also be gone. Instead, there will be a Bluetooth-enabled radio and four speakers rather than six. What will remain at six is the airbag count, and the rest of the safety kit such as ABS, stability control and hill start assist will also been retained.

Next up is the GT Line, which in addition to all of the EX’s kit adds sportier front and rear bumpers, side skirts and larger 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels. There are also colour-coded accents on the grille, front air intakes, side skirts and rear diffuser, while on the inside you’ll get a flat-bottomed steering wheel and leather seats.

Additional equipment includes a sunroof, a Supervision instrument cluster, auto air-con, a front armrest, an illuminated vanity mirror and a tyre pressure monitoring system. But the big news is that the GT Line will apparently come with autonomous emergency braking, joining the Myvi 1.5 Advance as the only cars (well) below the RM100,000 mark to have it. It will also be the first Kia model in Malaysia with the system.

No details on pricing have been revealed so far, but considering that the GT Line comes with plenty more equipment on top of AEB, we’re expecting it to be pushing closer to the RM60,000 mark. As for the KX, we wouldn’t be surprised if it dips below RM45,000, such is the paucity of kit. What do you guys think?