Kia’s fourth generation Rio was in party mood when it made its world debut in Paris this week and it promises to offer a compelling package which is designed and engineered to appeal to more people than ever before.

The B-segment car is the Korean manufacturer’s best-selling model globally, with more than 473,000 sold around the world in 2015, accounting for 16 per cent of Kia’s annual sales. And the latest Rio will build on the outgoing model’s key strengths – design, low running costs and a practical nature – with higher desirability, a more enjoyable driving experience and some of the most advanced safety features in its class.

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 domestic design base in Namyang, Korea. From the outside, the appearance of the new Rio is defined by straight lines and smooth surfacing, giving the car a distinctive new look and more mature character than its predecessor. Its driver-oriented cabin is also the most spacious in its class, and – with larger, 325-litre cargo capacity (VDA) – it is more practical than ever before.

The new model will also be the most technologically-advanced Rio ever produced, and is equipped with new cabin technologies, safety systems, and connectivity features. The Rio will offer both Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ integration, and will be the first car in its class to offer Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian recognition.

The car will be powered by a range of engines offering high efficiency and low emissions and will go on sale globally during the first quarter of 2017.