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Picanto is Northern Car of the Year
10:54, Sep 5 2011
Motoring News
by Mike Torpey, drivingforce.uk.net
THE Kia Picanto has scooped its first major award by being named Northern Car of the Year by the Northern Group of Motoring Writers.
And in an unprecedented one-two the Korean company’s Sportage sports utility vehicle took second spot behind its city car stablemate. The Ford Focus finished third.
Kia has been the only manufacturer to have figured in every top 10 short-list in the life of the awards and the only one to have two nominations in the same year, on three separate occasions.
Presenting the award of an original miner's lamp, group vice chairman Derrick Grocock said: “Picanto was a clear winner thanks to its looks, quality and excellent packaging which makes it such a perfect city car.”
The new Picanto went on sale at the start of June with a choice of 1.0 and 1.25 petrol engines and a starting price of £7,795 for the three-door and £7,995 for five door models.
Kia’s UK chief Michael Cole added: “We are delighted to get this award from such a well-known group of fair-minded and practical journalists. This is the first major award for Picanto but I don’t think it will be the last.”
