Kia unveils K2 sedan in Shanghai

Based on the company's Rio, the K2 will be offered in both four-door and five-door configurations and should compete with other premium small-car offerings in the market. Kia says the vehicle is the latest in the company's efforts to better match products with local market tastes, and that the K2 was specifically designed inside and out for Chinese buyers. That means that the vehicle wears a new set of headlights and a slightly-altered grille among a few other minor aesthetic adjustments outside.

Under the hood, the Chinese take on the Rio rocks a variety of drivetrain options, including a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 107 horsepower or a 1.6-liter four-pot with 123 ponies. Both a manual and an automatic transmission option are available for both lumps, though Kia hasn't said how many gears are on hand.

Kia says that the company will begin producing the four-door K2 this July at a new facility in Jiangsu province. Five-door production will get under way the following month.