Kia Picanto could see manual model added to Australian range
While the Kia Picanto has just recently launched with only an automatic transmission available, a manual option could be offered with the upcoming next-generation model.
Damien Meredith, Kia Australia chief operating officer, told CarAdvice that the brand could consider a stick-shifting version of the sharply-priced Picanto.
Going on Kia’s current strategy, the manual model would likely see a $2000 lower list price, meaning a potential $12,990 driveaway price tag. If it were to be offered at that price, it would become one of the cheapest vehicles on the market.
“We could tick the box with the new model and say we want manual,” said Meredith - likely referring to the all-new Picanto, expected to debut in the next 18 months, and not the recently-launched current model that has been on sale in other markets since 2011.
“I think we’ve just got to gauge the sales over the next few months with Picanto: see who is buying it and why they’re buying it and then make that decision.
“I think that we started off last month – there weren’t a lot of demos in the 186 we sold last month – we’re writing about five to 10 orders everyday with Picanto. So we’re relatively happy.
“It’s not a big segment, but to be number one in its first month is pretty good,” he said.
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