What's all this about?
Kia has announced two new special editions and a range of finance deals all available from the start of July. The finance offers will run until September while the new models are the Kia Picanto 'Chilli' and Sportage 'Axis Edition'.
Tell me about the new models.
Launched as part of the Picanto Originals programme the Chilli is priced from £11,495 with a 1.2-litre petrol engine and the choice of manual or automatic transmissions. Three colours are available - red, white and black - with styling additions including reshaped bumpers, side skirts, twin exhausts and 15-inch alloys. Inside, there's a mix of black and red trim; this is also the first Picanto to get factory-fitted satellite navigation, controlled from a seven-inch touchscreen.
Just 1,200 examples of the Kia Sportage Axis Edition will be built; it is designed to provide high-grade features for a mid-range price, starting at £20,995, fitting between the '2' and '3' trim grades in the Sportage range. Exterior features include roof rails, a gloss black grille with chrome surround, LED daytime running lights and a 'shark's fin' antenna. Inside, there's part-leather trim and a black headlining to give the interior more of a premium feel. Standard equipment includes a seven-speaker in-car entertainment system that supports Bluetooth music streaming and hands-free phone operation. Like the Picanto Chilli there's a seven-inch touch screen for the standard navigation. Power comes from either a 1.6-litre petrol engine or a 1.7-litre turbodiesel.
What about the finance?
The new Picanto Chilli is available on 0% finance, while customers buying the Sportage Axis Edition can take advantage of a £600 deposit contribution on PCP with an interest rate of 4.9%.
Also available on 0% PCP finance are the Picanto, Rio, cee'd, Venga and Carens grade '2' and VR7 models. As an example the Picanto VR7 is available from £69 per month while the cee'd or Venga cost £119 per month. The deals are based on a 35% deposit and 24-month contract term.
Any model is available on 4.9% PCP finance over two or three years with deposit contributions across the range. Up to £1,500 is available on the five-door cee'd, three-door pro_cee'd and cee'd Sportwagon, including the GT models. Customers who prefer not to take out a PCP deal can still save up to £1,250 on the cee'd range.
John Lambert - 1 Jul 2015