Completely redesigned and re-engineered, the new Picanto has grown in overall length and wheelbase. It will be offered with a sportier three-door body style in the UK and Europe as well as a five-door that will be on sale globally.

The new Picanto has been designed to offer a bolder, more mature and more self confident look.

Kia's chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, said: 'In profile, new Picanto features significant sculpting and a very prominent rising character line. The result is a layering of light and shadow and this breaks up the height, giving the car a more sure-footed stance.'

The new Picanto will feature four new powertrains in 1.0- and 1.2-litre displacements, all said to offer class-leading CO2 emissions levels. In addition to the standard petrol engines, LPG, bi-fuel and flex-fuel variations will be available depending on local market requirements.

The car's onsale dates are still be announced.