Kia Motor's will use the 2016 Paris Motor Show as the base for the World Premiere for the All-New Rio hatchback.

The all-new, fourth-generation Kia Rio will make its world premiere on 29 September in Paris, at the 2016 Mondial de l’Automobile.

The Rio’s progressive new exterior and interior design was led by Kia’s design centres in Germany and California, in close collaboration with the company’s main design centre in Namyang, Korea. 

Straight lines and smooth surfacing give the car a distinctive new character, while a longer front overhang and bonnet, longer wheelbase, and upright C-pillar give the car an even more confident and balanced appearance than its predecessor.

The all-new Rio will offer buyers class-leading practicality and safety technology, the latest connectivity features, and more assured and engaging ride and handling characteristics.

The Kia Rio is the Korean manufacturer’s global best-selling model, with more than 473,000 sold around the world in 2015. The next generation will enter production towards the end of 2016 for Europe, with production timings for the UK to be announced closer to launch.

Kia’s 2016 Mondial de l’Automobile press conference will start at 14:45 CET on 29 September. Kia’s stand will be located in Hall 3 of the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

DRIVER POWER - Jaguar celebrates a quartet of great results in the AE Driver power 2015 results.

• Jaguar XJ tops executive car class and finishes seventh overall in the Driver Power top 100
• Jaguar F-TYPE finishes second in the sports car category, with the XK in third
• The Jaguar XF scores best-in-class for ride quality, finishing fourth in the executive car class
• Strong scores and rankings prove the current Jaguar model line-up is a hit with owners

Jaguar has scored an impressive set of results in this year’s Auto Express Driver Power customer satisfaction survey with an executive car category win, second and third place in the sports car category and several best-in-class awards. 

Top of the executive car table was the Jaguar XJ, scoring 92.46 per cent for customer satisfaction. Owners praised the flagship luxury saloon for its eye-catching styling and winning blend of comfort, performance and in-car technology. 

Plaudits also came for the XJ’s ease of use and, thanks to its aluminium construction and efficient 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel, and 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engines, its running costs. As a result, the XJ finished comfortably inside the overall top ten, in seventh place. 

The Jaguar F-TYPE finished second in the sports car category in its Driver Power survey debut. As you’d expect for a Jaguar sports car, owners sung the praises of the F-TYPE’s blistering performance and its handling, seat comfort and ride quality. 

Finishing just behind the F-TYPE was the XK, which won plaudits for its glamorous looks, ease of use and comfort. Owners ranked the XK as second overall in terms of performance.

Completing an excellent run of results was the XF, which was voted best-in-class for ride quality and finished a brilliant fourth overall in the executive car class. Owners eulogised about how easy it is to drive and also how impressive its performance is, with top ten finishes in both these categories

Steve Fowler, Editor-in-chief of Auto Express said: “Jaguar has stormed back to the top in the Driver Power ratings recently, and its cars continue to impress owners. The XJ took an impressive victory in the executive class and finished in the top 10 overall. Jaguar’s sports cars also score highly with owners – both the F-Type and XK/R ranked highly in Driver Power 2015.” 

Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director, said: “We’re enormously proud of these results as they’re proof that the Jaguar range is strong across the board, with all our cars winning praise from owners whether they are looking for a comfortable executive car or a thrilling sports coupé. What is even more exciting is that with the XE, new XF and F-PACE on the way, the Jaguar line-up is only going to get stronger.”

Earlier this month, Jaguar Land Rover UK launched a new Approved Used Programme offering increased benefits and peace of mind to customers wishing to buy a used Jaguar. 

It provides vehicles under five years old and under 100,000 miles with a premium-sector leading two-year unlimited mileage warranty, 165 checks and a consequential damage guarantee up to the vehicle purchase price.

Vehicles purchased through the programme also get an independent history and mileage check, MOT cover, complimentary seven-day drive away insurance, UK and Europe road side assistance and a 30-day/1,000 mile vehicle exchange policy.

CHINA - Hyundai is so successful in China, it intends to build its fourth and fifth plant there.

• Each Plant to have annual production capacity of 300,000 units
• New plants will increase Beijing Hyundai Motor Co.’s capacity to 1.65 million units per year by 2018

Beijing Hyundai Motor Company (BHMC), a 50-50 joint venture between Hyundai Motor Company and Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., today said it would begin building its fourth and fifth plants in China next year to respond to surging demands in the world’s largest automobile market.

BHMC will build its fourth plant in Cangzhou, Hebei province, and its fifth plant in Chongqing, with an annual production capacity of 300,000 units per plant. With the completion of the two plants by 2018, BHMC will have the capability to produce up to 1.65 million cars per year in China.

BHMC plans to open the fourth plant with an initial annual capacity of 200,000 units in the second half of 2016, and later add capacity to reach the expected 300,000 units per year. The plant in Hebei will be built on a 2.095 million square metre site with a floor space of 221,000 square metres, featuring vehicle production facilities such as stamping, welding, painting, assembly and module lines.

Construction of its fifth plant in Chongqing will begin in the third quarter of 2015 and once completed, it will also have an annual capacity of 300,000 units.  Built on a 2 million square metre site, the plant will have 274,000 square metres of floor space, featuring complete vehicle and engine production facilities. Small and mid-size models specifically designed for the Chinese market will be rolled out from the plant, starting from the first half of 2017.

Hyundai established BHMC in 2002, opening its first plant in China. It added a second factory in 2008, doubling its annual production capacity to 600,000 units. In 2012, with the addition of the third plant, the total annual production capacity reached more than 1 million units per year. The new plants are expected to further reinforce the company’s presence as a leading automaker in the Chinese market.