South Korean automaker Kia Motors plans to unveil a number of new vehicles as well as feature a virtual tour of the brand’s all-new Sorento and the full range of new models at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

Five years after launching the Kia Venga, Kia will reveal an enhanced version of its popular compact MPV at the show opening on October 2. The refreshed model features a new-look front and rear, a more sophisticated cabin, new alloy wheels and an expanded range of options.

“On its introduction in 2009, the Kia Venga brought stylish good looks to what was, at that time, an otherwise-unremarkable vehicle segment. As well as winning prestigious design awards, the Venga also ensured that rewarding, fun-to-drive motoring was available to drivers whose lifestyles demand a compact MPV,” said Michael Cole, chief operating officer, Kia Motors Europe.

“The 2015 Kia Venga continues to offer all the practicality, versatility and reliability that European buyers expect, but a mildly refreshed appearance will boost the appeal of our compact MPV in the years ahead,” added Cole.

Diesel-electric Kia Optima T-Hybrid

Kia will also reveal the new Kia Optima mild hybrid show car, the first application and demonstration of the brand’s innovative hybrid powertrain, at the Paris event.

The Kia Optima T-Hybrid (turbo hybrid) concept is powered by the model’s existing 1.7-litre CRDi turbo-diesel engine, paired with a small electric motor, powered by a 48V lead-carbon battery.

The diesel-electric powertrain concept, which was previewed at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, enables the Optima T-Hybrid show car to be driven in electric-only mode at low speeds and when cruising, with deceleration serving to recharge the battery pack.

Lead-carbon batteries were chosen for the mild hybrid powertrain as, unlike lithium-ion batteries, they require no active cooling and are easier to recycle at the end of the unit’s lifecycle.

Third-generation Kia Sorento

The all-new Kia Sorento will make its European premiere in Paris, exhibiting a unique blend of style, practicality and technology, which builds on the success of the outgoing model. The new SUV’s smoother, swept-back profile and deeply sculpted surfaces introduce a higher level of sophistication for the third-generation model, delivering a premium look and feel, with more space and numerous innovative features, a statement said.

The designers of the third generation Kia Sorento named their inspiration for the new car as ‘Streetwolf’. Although the styling changes are evolutionary, Kia has altered the character of the new Sorento, highlighting its sleek, sinuous, profile, while creating a sophisticated appearance and ensuring the new model has a bolder on-the-road presence.

Enhanced Kia Rio

Kia will also hold the world premiere of an enhanced Kia Rio at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, featuring a number of improvements to maintain the competitiveness of its global best-selling car.

“The Kia Rio was our best-selling vehicle nameplate worldwide in 2013, with a total of 471,000 sales, and among our top-three sellers here in Europe with 56,821 units delivered. Improvements to this model are of major significance for our brand,” said Cole.

“The immense popularity of the Rio shows that our designers and engineers got most things ‘right’ when creating the fourth-generation of our compact B-segment challenger in 2011. The Rio retains the core attributes that have proved so popular with owners, while enhancements to the 2014 model include a slight visual makeover, giving it a fresh exterior and interior look,” he added.

Virtual tour of Paris Motor Show stand

Kia fans will have the chance to experience the brand’s all-new Sorento and the full range of Kia models remotely, with a virtual tour of Kia’s 72 metre-long Paris motor show stand.

The Kia Virtual Tour will be the first ever created by a car manufacturer, and will be visible on the Google Maps community site, ‘Views’, where users publish their photos and panoramas.

The virtual tour of the Paris show stand will let users navigate around the 23 Kia cars on display at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, and even take a closer look inside each of the cars.

Users will have information on each car at their disposal as they tour the display, with key features just a click away. Content will be translated for the majority of Kia’s most popular European markets, and images and descriptions of the cars will be instantly shareable by users via social media sites.

A full 360-degree overview of the new Kia Sorento SUV’s exterior and interior will also be available online via the Google View function.

Artur Martins, vice president, Marketing, Kia Motors Europe, said: “Motor shows are some of the most important events in our calendar for introducing our latest models to media and the general public, and the virtual tour will open up our incredible Paris motor show stand to even greater numbers.”

“Paris is the first place in Europe that people will get to see the new Kia Sorento, but this time even those unable to attend the event will be able to get a first impression of the car and Kia’s entire range of new and innovative products,” added Martins.

The show will be open to the public on October 4, and the Kia Virtual Tour will be available from October 9. – TradeArabia News Service