Thursday 2nd January 2014

New Kia coupe concept teased before Detroit

Spec sounds great, the name less so

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If ever an introduction sentence grabbed the collective PH attention, it’s ‘rear-wheel drive concept powered by 315hp 2.0-litre engine’. You’re interested, right?

A RWD coupe from Kia? You better believe it

Good, because that’s just about all that’s known about the Kia GT4 Stinger at this point. And although the name sounds like something from GTA, that is definitely correct. For now, at least.

A low slung coupe designed by Kia’s American Design Center (it’s in California so we’ll use their spelling just this once), it will debut at Detroit on 13th January. 

Kia’s familiar tiger grill features in its most dramatic iteration yet, plus there’s a carbon front splitter and 20-inch wheels.

That 2.0-litre engine is turbocharged but again, no further details have been released. It’s exciting news from Kia though, especially given the promise shown by the Pro_Cee’d GT and the recent announcement of the ‘N’ performance brand from Hyundai too. Could they work together on a joint RWD sports coupe project, a la GT86/BRZ?

[Rawwr]

Excellent news! Kia's design department has been on fire for the last couple of years so I'm expecting good things.

[ugg10]

Interesting ! the top view looks like the BMW Z3M breadwagon and that's not a bad thing.

[GTRene]

sounds promising, KIA is on a good way with their cars.

[G0ldfysh]

Please make it sound like the Stinger GT in GTA V as well.
This looks great, performance should be decent as well.

Shame concepts are always better than the reality.

[vincegail]

G0ldfysh said:

Please make it sound like the Stinger GT in GTA V as well.
This looks great, performance should be decent as well.

Shame concepts are always better than the reality.

For the moment, it's a rendering of a concept. Even further away from the real car!

[goron59]

Yay! Like some others above, I'm rather taken with Kia's design of late and the cars I've tried have been decent.

This could be rather splendid.

[M3BUZ]

Someone stuck a Kia badge on a squashed Audi R8?

[Evo]

Drove a Kia Cee'd a couple of years back for a bit and was blown away by how goo the whole package was.

I reckon it'll be a looker by the time it comes out going by there current efforts.

[TinyCappo]

Calling it the GT4 when its not 4WD?

please correct me if im wrong but wont this have Toyota reaching for the phone to the lawyers too?

Be interesting to see if this makes it to the RHD countries, or whether we will be left looking at them with envious eyes a la the Genesis coupe

[Dr3w]

Horrible front profile, way too boxy.

[MondeoMan1981]

M3BUZ said:

Someone stuck a Kia badge on a squashed Audi R8?

Interesting point as isn't Kia's top designer chap ex-Audi ?

[alpha channel]

Liking the sound of it a great deal. However Kia already produced (in my eye's) quite a good looking coupe ...well the 2010 version anyway, and like that one (and the equally good looking Hyundai Genesis) it'll never appear over here and that's the really blood boiling annoying thing, we get lumbered with the frankly awkward looking Veloster and other hot/luke warm hatches.

[Adrian250]

G0ldfysh said:

Shame concepts are always better than the reality.

In principle yes, but can I remind you of the F-Type once more …..

[Steamer]

ummm fat wheel arches on the back... give me some of that 928 / 968 styling!

[Amirhussain]

Looks like an Audi R8...

[Escort Si-130]

Hmmm, same thing I was wondering, why does it look very similar to the R8, he could at least do something different.

MondeoMan1981 said:

M3BUZ said:

Someone stuck a Kia badge on a squashed Audi R8?

Interesting point as isn't Kia's top designer chap ex-Audi ?

[Hairbrakes]

Dr3w said:

Horrible front profile, way too boxy.

looks reminiscent of an old Camaro:

[The Nur]

It sounds good, except for the 20 inch wheels.

[DukeDickson]

MondeoMan1981 said:

M3BUZ said:

Someone stuck a Kia badge on a squashed Audi R8?

Interesting point as isn't Kia's top designer chap ex-Audi ?

Peter Schreyer - one of various people associated with the original TT, which was a pretty decent bit of design (even if underpinned by manure).

[Wadeski]

Kia are on a bit of a styling and performance roll. The 274hp Optima is supposed to be seriously quick for the price.

With their Panamera-fighter and now this coupe, they could fill the gap Toyota and Honda have left by being f*cking dull.