LuxuryCarMagazine En Luxury Car Review and News
The Korean juggernaut that is Hyundai is slowly putting all of its players in place as it strives to strategically position a product in every segment. The luxury Genesis brand is making waves while Hyundai conquers the hearts and wallets of the frugal and thrifty.
Kia still has much on offer where pleasing the masses is concerned. Their main mantra is similar to that of Hyundai however when a certain Peter Schreyer at the helm of design, styling is bound to be a massive topic of discussion.
The new 2018 Kia Stinger is without a doubt one of the stars of the 2017 NAIAS. We were first teased with the GT concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show that blew our minds with its fastback shape, muscular proportions and overall boldness. Would you believe that the production version is even better looking? Has Kia done the previously unthinkable by creating a “real” car that is prettier and more exciting than the concept? In short: absolutely. This car is a dream come true for the design team and the brand.
The Kia Stinger encompasses design cues from the most beautiful cars currently produced and makes them all its own. Depending on the angle, there’s German, Italian and British hints that are perfectly blended into a sleek 5-door fastback; I’ve yet to pick my jaw off the floor since seeing it. As a GT, or gran turismo, the Stinger needs to live up to performance, comfort as well as styling expectations and by jolly, we think Kia’s done it.
The Stinger sits on a chassis that is comprised of 55% advanced high-strength steel and a wheelbase that is longer than the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 4-Serie Gran Coupé and Mercedes CLS. Being also longer than all of these, passengers are treated to plenty of room, not to mention loads of luxury features. Heavily bolstered seats can be covered in ultra-soft Nappa leather and are split up front by a dynamic and involving center console that houses a generous array of controls.
Speaking of control, the Stinger is not just a pretty face, or a cosseting luxury yacht. The fully independent suspension is tuned, according to Kia, to provide the driver with feedback and a sense of all-important control. The Dynamic Stability Damping Control can be controlled via the Stinger’s five drive modes settings: Personal, Eco, Sport, Comfort and Smart. Oh, and control is also afforded by an available AWD system. The basic configuration is, lord almighty, RWD with a mechanical limited slip differential!
Power will come from a pair of boosted engines that are still under development. The first is a 255-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-pot while the other is a 365-horsepower 3.3-liter V6. Both will be mated to the in-house developed 8-speed automatic that should help the V6-equipped Stinger reach 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds. Expect 4.9 or so…
The all-new 2018 Kia Stinger is planned to go on sale late in 2017 and pricing will be announced closer to launch. Regardless of all that, we can’t wait to find out if drives as good as it looks.
2018 Kia Stinger Images
