Kia Stinger GT - official!
Kia goes after the Germans with new 365hp, RWD saloon - full details here
More of those in a sec. First to the design, said to exude "a muscular confidence". A fastback more than a traditional three-box saloon, the Stinger sits in between rivals like a 4 Series and 6 Series Gran Coupe at 4,831mm long. The wheelbase is 2,906mm and the Stinger measures 1,869mm across. As for the look, Kia says "the stance and visual balance are designed to lend the car an air of elegance and athleticism, rather than boy racer aggression." While the shark nose is a familiar Kia trait now, the cab-back silhouette and broad rear haunches certainly aren't. And there are four exhausts! What do you reckon? Don't forget America is likely to be the biggest market...
As yet there are no pictures of the Stinger's interior, though we're promised a "confident dashboard", a "feeling of cocooned intimacy" and "aeronautically inspired spoked circular vents". That longish wheelbase should ensure plenty of space, while the driver gets a TFT screen between the dials to provide info like oil temperature, lap times and g-forces. Or something dull like the trip computer.
It would appear there's plenty to be encouraged by with Kia's first sports saloon then. We'll hope to bring you more from Detroit soon, but there shouldn't be long to wait for the Stinger; sales will begin later this year, with prices to follow nearer the time.
See if it keeps with a KIA price tag
Might be interested in a year old one at £10k though!
Gripes? Well, they might have people who 'previously did' with Audi and BMW, but they employed a child to propose a suitable name, and to my mind there is far too much chrome/silver highlighting that draws your eye away from the body.
I'd have expected a BMW-like 'shadow chrome' effect, if only to add interest / gravitas?
I must say though, if I was in the market for something like this I'd be hitting the mainstream manufacturers showrooms as I somehow don't see the residuals of this being up to those of its Germanic competitors...
I quite like the styling; except for the headlights and grill which remind me uncomfortably of the pre-facelift 1-series.
I've been very impressed with the recent Kias I've driven/fiddled with. They seem to be modelling themselves more after the Japanese than the Germans in their approach to things, which isn't a bad thing, IMO. I'd love to see them do a smaller but similarly shaped car based on the same platform.
tea- no manual option (de rigure these days apparently).
- the damned Nurburgring poking its snout in, just because it can go fast around there doesn't mean it's any good in the real world.
- too many options for suspension (it seems that car companies can't design and set up suspension correctly without turning to electrics to sort out the shortcomings).
- and that it's a saloon, though a good looking one (the rear 3/4 panel puts me in mind of the current XJ), I wonder what a coupe would look like though (which is what goes through my mind when I hear GT)?
Mind you that lot can be levelled at virtually any car company these days though.
It has almost all the right components, it only misses the brand value.
Good move!
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