FOUR new models are on the way from Kia taking the Korean car maker to new levels of sophistication and technology.

An all-new Picanto city car, a plug-in hybrid SUV with a theoretical fuel return of more than 180mpg and a high performance GT called the Stinger were all revealed at the Geneva Motor Show.

Plug-in technology is also coming on stream in Kia's flagship estate, the Optima Sportswagon.

Michael Cole, chief operating officer of Kia Motors Europe, said: "The variety of new Kia vehicles on display here in Geneva underlines the ambition and increasingly broad appeal of the company and its cars.

"The Stinger is the most powerful car that Kia has ever produced, while the new Picanto - one of the company's best-selling models worldwide - makes a statement with a bold, modern design, new technologies, and best-in-class versatility.

"New plug-in hybrid versions of the Niro and Optima Sportswagon will help Kia achieve its 2020 target to improve fuel economy by 25 per cent over 2014 levels."

As with all Kia models all four of the newcomers shown at Geneva come with the company's industry leading seven year/100,000 mile warranty as standard. On the plug-in hybrids this also covers the cars' lithium-ion polymer battery packs.

The new Picanto made its global debut at Geneva and is due on sale in only a few weeks' time.

With sharper styling inside and out it will be available initially with 1.0- and 1.25-litre petrol engines with optimum fuel economy said to be in the 70mpgs.

Kia's new high end GT-Line trim level will also be available on the latest Picanto which adds some sporty design. All versions have full onboard connectivity as well as a new-look display screen mounted high on the dashboard.

The Stinger was having its European premiere at Geneva having been first revealed at the Detroit Motor Show earlier in the year.

It's the most powerful Kia so far and the line up will include a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 pumping out 370ps giving the car a 0 to 60 time in the region of five seconds.

With a four-door fastback design, the Stinger looks a sleek and capable GT. The top range model is likely to cost more than £40,000 and will set new standards for the company in more ways than one.

Other engines in the line up - which will cost from around £30,000 - will be a 2.0-litre 255ps petrol and a 200ps, 2.0-litre diesel.

The Stinger will be arriving in the UK in the autumn around the same time as Kia will be launching the new eco-oriented plug-in models.

Both will be capable of running purely on electricity for around 35 miles which strips overall emissions down to around 30g/km in the Niro and to 35g/km in the larger Optima estate.