Kia Hits Paris with Stylish Sport Concept

It's no secret that time is running out for the somewhat antiquated Rio, but what will its replacement be like? Kia dropped a

The Getz is taller, narrower and stodgier than the lithe Sport concept. (Photo: Kia Motors America)

major hint with the ambiguously named Sport Concept, which it recently unveiled at this year's Paris Motor Show. The screaming yellow pocket rocket is said to be a "dramatic trailer" of a new B-segment vehicle (subcompact) which is expected to make a worldwide debut come spring, 2005.

The Sport, and next generation Rio (if it ends up being called such) shares its underpinnings with Hyundai's Getz. It provides a much more rigid "platform" to build on than the Rio, with a European-tuned strut and torsion beam setup. It's more than unlikely that a production version will receive the Sport's five-spoke

Even without the turbocharged 200 horsepower 4-cylinder engine, bright yellow paint and flashy body kit, the Sport appears like an attractive yet sensible vehicle. (Photo: Kia Motors America)

18-inch alloy wheels and performance rubber, or the extreme sport-tuned springs and pavement-scraping ground clearance of the concept car.

Where Hyundai's Getz is tall and upright, with an enlarged passenger cabin and a short hood, the Sport's body is sleeker, leaner and easier on the eyes. With its large, flat-topped jewel-like headlamps, narrow grille and layered front fascia, the styling is pleasant, if not a bit generic, seemingly imitating the latest designs from Toyota and Lexus, most of which aren't exactly original either. The rear end of the Sport is seamlessly drawn together with a mildly tapered hatch, embossed hatch lid partition and wraparound LED taillamps.