Kia is going sporty again at this year’s Special Equipment Manufacturer’s Association show, and it’s previewed the first model, a surfing/skate-themed 2012 Rio hatchback.
The Rio was created in conjunction with Antenna Magazine, and promises to be a “one-of-a-kind retro ride aimed at totally radical surfing enthusiasts.” The concept is based on a stock five-door 2012 Rio, but is then painted in a so-called “sunset-metallic golden-brown” hue. To make this a veritable woody, the car receives a custom front splitter actually made from wood (and patterned after vintage surfboards).
Other exterior modifications include gold-finished aluminum wheels, a new set of side skirts, and a you-can’t-miss-it exhaust system that terminates with two large tips that protrude through the center of the rear bumper. Inside, the cargo hold has also been decked out: it now has shelves for sandals and swimsuits, as well as an old-school record player and a retro-style video game system.
Beneath the skin, the Antenna-decorated car is much the same as any other production Rio. The car is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which is rated at 30 mpg city/40 mpg highway when paired with an optional stop/start system.
The Antenna Magazine-tuned Rio will be on display at the SEMA Show, along with five other Rio concepts, which Kia has few details about, other than to say they are “developed with high-profile partners” and that they’ll be “sports-themed.”
