Kia K2 (2011) - it's the Rio saloon for China

Kia is developing a four-door saloon version of the new Rio supermini, dubbed K2 and revealed today at the 2011 Shanghai motor show.

The Kia K2 has been developed specifically for the Chinese market and there are no plans - even in the long run - to bring it to the UK, according to a UK spokesman.

The K2 uses the architecture of the Rio family, but the stylists make no apologies for its riffing on the Optima theme.

It's 4370mm long and Kia claims the longest wheelbase in class for better packaging. There's certainly no arguing with 500 litres of boot space on a B-segment supermini saloon.

It will be manufactured locally in the Dongfeng Yueda factory in China from June 2011. The Chinese car market still prefers traditional saloon formats and Kia claims the notchback supermini segment accounts for 16% of all new car sales.

Kia will sell the K2 in China with a 1.4 or 1.6 Gamma petrol engine, mated to manual or auto transmissions.

Click here to read CAR's early prototype drive of the new Kia Rio supermini.

By Tim Pollard