Just months after its launch, the sporty Kia Picanto three-door, available exclusively in Europe, has been honoured with the coveted iF product design award 2012. This award recognises design quality alongside a number of other criteria, including workmanship, innovation and eco-friendliness.

Picanto’s commendation is Kia’s fourth iF product design award in three years, following prizes for the Venga B-segment MPV, Sportage compact SUV and Optima mid-size saloon. Additionally, the brand has won the red dot design award four times in recent years.

“Receiving the iF product design award for the new Kia Picanto is a great success for our design team and it is welcome recognition of our brand’s design-oriented strategy,” said Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. “The second generation Picanto displays a very purposeful, self-assured design, and its sportiness is particularly underscored by the three-door version.”
The new Picanto is the first to be offered in three-door form where it is expected to account for 45 per cent of total Picanto sales in the UK.