Kia Stinger Explained

Kia Stinger
Model Code:CK
Manufacturer:Kia
Production:October 2017[1] – April 2023[2]
Model Years:2018–2023
Designer:Sang-hun Ahn[3]
Class:Mid-size car (D)
Body Style:5-door liftback/fastback sedan
Platform:Hyundai M2 Platform
Transmission:8-speed A8LR1/A8TR1 automatic
Wheelbase:29051NaN1
Length:48301NaN1
Width:18701NaN1
Height:14001NaN1
Weight:1638–

The Kia Stinger (Korean: 기아 스팅어) is a mid-size liftback/fastback manufactured by Kia between 2017 and 2023.

Overview

The Stinger traces its roots to the GT Concept from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and the Kia GT4 Stinger from the 2014 North American International Auto Show.[4] Design work was led by Peter Schreyer[5] and Gregory Guillaume (Kia's Chief Designer[6]) at Kia's European studio in Frankfurt and engineered by former BMW M Vice President of Engineering Albert Biermann, the car was unveiled at the 2017 North American International Auto Show. Biermann is now the executive vice president of performance development and high performance vehicles of the Hyundai Motor Group.[7]

Testing of the car involved over at the Korea International Circuit and at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.[8] [4] [9]

Performance

The Stinger uses a shortened version of the Hyundai Genesis' front-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform with additional steel reinforcement and is offered with a choice of two engines: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces ; and a 33421NaN1 twin-turbo V6 engine that generates at 6,000 rpm and 510Nm of torque from 1,300-4,500 rpm for the AWD variant. For the European and Korean markets, the Stinger is offered with a base 2.2-liter CRDi diesel I4 that produces .[10] GT variants are equipped with Brembo brakes and Michelin tires. The sole transmission is an 8-speed automatic with five driving modes plus paddle-shifters.

Kia claims that the Stinger accelerates from zero to in 7.7, 6 and 4.9 seconds for the 2.2-liter diesel, 2.0-liter gasoline and 3.3-liter gasoline respectively. Schreyer reportedly drove a pre-production Stinger GT at a top speed of on the Autobahn.

During a test by Car and Driver, an all-wheel-drive U.S. spec GT 3.3T with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires achieved NaNmph in 4.6 seconds on the track, reached 0.91 g on the skidpad and was able to stop from 70mph in . According to this publication, the U.S. model's top speed is governed at 167mph per Kia specs.[11] In tests conducted by Motor Trend, the four-cylinder U.S. spec Stinger 2.0 RWD on Bridgestone Potenza tires reached 60mph in 6.6 seconds, completed the NaNmiles run in 15 seconds and stopped from 60mph in . The average lateral acceleration recorded in track testing was 0.85 g.[12] [13]

Facelift

In August 2020, Kia unveiled a refreshed Stinger that went on sale in South Korea on the third quarter of 2020 and worldwide by the end of year. Styling updates include revised headlights and tail lights, a new 10.25-inch infotainment screen and an additional wheel design. Kia also added an optional 2.5-liter Smartstream FR G2.5 T-GDi engine producing as well as a variable exhaust to the existing 3.3-liter Lambda II RS T-GDi that increases the power by .

The Kia Stinger was updated for the British market on 6 January 2021,[14] while the North American model was updated on 16 March 2021,[15] making it one of the first cars to bear the new Kia logo in said region, alongside the Carnival. The Mexican model later arrived on 3 May 2021, also sporting the new Kia logo.[16]

Powertrain

Engines!Model!!Years!!Transmission!!Power!!Torque!!Acceleration
0–100 km/h
(0-62 mph)
(official)!!Top Speed
Gasoline
Theta II 2.0 T-GDi2017–20238-speed automatic1970NaN0 @ 6,200 rpm36kgm @ 1,400–3,900 rpm8.0 s (RWD)
8.5 s (AWD)
2550NaN0 @ 6,200 rpm36kgm @ 1,400–4,000 rpm6.0 s (RWD)
6.8 s (AWD)
Smartstream 2.5 T-GDi2020–20233040NaN0 @ 5,800 rpm43kgm @ 1,650–4,000 rpm5.6 s (RWD)
Lambda II 3.3 T-GDi2017–20203700NaN0 @ 6,000 rpm52kgm @ 1,300–4,500 rpm4.9 s (RWD)
5.4 s (AWD)
240km/h[17]
270km/h[18]
2020–20233730NaN0 @ 6,000 rpm
Diesel
R II 2.2 CRDi2017–20208-speed automatic2020NaN0 @ 3,800 rpm45kgm @ 1,750–2,750 rpm7.6 s (RWD)

Marketing

In June 2017, Kia Motors teamed up with GQ magazine to promote the Stinger as a "street style icon".[19]

The Stinger GT was featured in series 2 episode 3 of The Grand Tour, where co-presenter James May raced it against two longboard riders on a mountain road in Majorca, with the car going uphill and the skateboarders going downhill.[20]

On 4 February 2018, Kia released two Stinger commercials during Super Bowl LII. The first commercial features racing driver Emerson Fittipaldi.[21] The second features Aerosmith lead vocalist Steven Tyler driving the car on an oval track in reverse until he becomes 40 years younger.[22]

In January 2019, Kia announced a partnership with K-pop girl group Blackpink to promote the Stinger, serving as the title sponsor for the group's In Your Area World Tour with Kia providing vehicles to support the group during the World Tour and featuring the Stinger alongside the group members in promotional videos.[23]

In June 2021, the judges of America's Got Talent arrived to the show in two Kia Stinger GT2 2022.[24]

Safety

Euro NCAPEuro NCAP test results for a LHD, 2.2-liter CRDi GT-Line 5-door fastback variant on a 2017 registration:

Police use

In 2018, Queensland Police Service and Tasmania Police in Australia selected the Stinger 330S as their new Road Policing car, replacing the discontinued Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore police cars.[25] [26]

Since 2019, the V6 variants of the Stinger have been utilized by SPEED police units in Poland. The unmarked vehicles are used to monitor the safety on the roads; they are also used as pursuit vehicles.[27]

In 2021, Merseyside Police started using the Stinger.

Awards

The Stinger won the iF Product Design Award in the "Transportation Design" category[28] and the Red Dot award in the "Best of the Best Car Design" category in 2018.[29]

The Stinger won the 2018 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards "Best of the Year".[30]

Discontinuation

In October 2022, Kia planned to end production of the Stinger in April 2023. The reason behind this is due to declining demand worldwide with only 1,499 units sold in its home country Korea being the least selling Kia model, Kia streamlining their range by ending sales of products that are low in demand, and Kia's electrification strategy with plans introduced an electric coupe-type saloon.[31]

In December 2022, Kia released the Stinger Tribute Edition variant to mark the end of production, based on the Stinger GT 3.3-litre turbocharged petrol variant, it has an exclusive exterior color, interior upholstery and design specifications. The Tribute Edition variant is limited to 1,000 units worldwide; 200 units for Korea and 800 units worldwide. The exterior features the new Moonscape Gray matte color, and the 19" wheels and Brembo brakes are in black. For the interior, there are individual numbered door sills, Terracotta brown leather upholstery, faux carbon fibre trim on door panels and dashboard, the wasp icons embedded onto seat headrests.[32] [33]

Sales

Calendar yearSouth KoreaMexicoUnited States[34] Canada[35] EuropeAustraliaOtherGlobal
20176,322 118[36] 843 172 1,270 504[37] 85 9,314
20185,700521[38] 16,806 1,682 5,723 1,957[39] 952 33,341
20193,644304[40] 13,861 1,569 5,008 1,773 793 26,952
20203,525143[41] 12,556 1,125 2,177 1,778 490 21,794
20213,167138[42] 13,517 1,229 1,677 1,407 592 21,727
20221,984 77[43] 7,809 688 1,147 2,242[44] 1,287 15,234
2023483 46 5,452 669 1,345 1,806[45] 215 10,016
Total24,825 1,347 70,844 7,134 18,347 11,467 4,414 138,378

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kia Stonic to launch in September, Kia Stinger in October - Europe. Indians Auto Blog. 27 December 2023. 1 August 2017.
  2. Web site: Kia Stinger production ending in April 2023 - report. William. Stopford. 21 October 2022. CarExpert. 27 December 2023.
  3. USD833332S1. Automobile. 2018-11-13. Ahn. Sang Hun.
  4. Web site: 2018 Kia Stinger: A Rear-Drive Shot Across the Germans' Bow . Robinson, Aaron . . 2017-03-01 . 2017-05-23.
  5. The Place To Be. Autoweek. February 6, 2017. 11.
  6. The 2018 Kia Stinger Defies Germany's Famed Nürburgring Nordschleife Race Track . Harley . Michael . . 2017-06-26 . 2017-10-29.
  7. New G70 Compact Sedan Helps Hyundai Define Korean Luxury For Its Genesis Brand . Trop, Jaclyn . . 2017-09-17 . 2017-10-29.
  8. Nine Zingers About the New Kia Stinger . Loh . Edward . . 2017-01-08 . 2017-05-26.
  9. 12 Things You Didn't Know About the 2018 Kia Stinger . Floyd . Mike . . 2017-01-16 . 2017-05-26.
  10. Kia Stinger GT - European model lineup revealed . Prosser . Dan . . 2017-01-19 . 2017-05-23.
  11. Kia Stinger . . 2017-10-29.
  12. Web site: Rogers. Cameron. October 14, 2020. 2021 Kia Stinger Prices, Reviews, and Pictures Edmunds. Edmunds.com.
  13. 2018 Kia Stinger 2.0 First Test: Look Out BMW, Here Comes Korea . MacKenzie . Angus . . 2017-10-19 . 2017-10-29.
  14. Web site: Trinkwon . Will . Refreshed Kia Stinger goes on sale from £42,595 . Autocar . 7 June 2021 . 6 January 2021.
  15. Web site: Ewing . Steven . 2022 Kia Stinger updates make the heart grow fonder . Roadshow (CNET) . 7 June 2021. 16 March 2021.
  16. Web site: García . Gerardo . El KIA Stinger 2022 ya tiene precio en México: estrena motor, tecnología y logo (The KIA Stinger now has price in Mexico: brand new engine, technology, and logo . Motorpasión México . 7 June 2021 . es-mx . 3 May 2021.
  17. All-season tires
  18. Summer tires
  19. Kia Stinger fastback is a street style icon . Perry, Kevin . . 2017-06-01 . 2017-06-22.
  20. Web site: The Cars of The Grand Tour: Season 2, Episode 3 . Person, Sam . . 2017-12-19 . 2018-01-01 . 17 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180617165250/https://drivetribe.com/p/the-cars-of-the-grand-tour-season-aoOwPeyDTYqoHF1igLFNfg?iid=Ljl6fLhcTJq7mavVIGp1Qg . dead .
  21. Kia is bringing the Stinger - and Emerson Fittipaldi - to the Super Bowl . . 2018-01-26 . 2018-04-28.
  22. Steven Tyler Is Forever Young In Kia Super Bowl Commercial . Lynch, Joe . . 2018-02-04 . 2018-04-28.
  23. Web site: 2019-01-07 . Kia Motors teams up with K-Pop phenomenon BLACKPINK . 2024-03-31 . Kia Media . en.
  24. Parker . Ben . 2021-06-23 . Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum Square Up in AGT Kia Ad . The News Wheel.
  25. News: Kia Stinger joins Queensland Police fleet . Isaac . Bober . Practical Motoring . 2018-07-05 . 2018-10-31.
  26. News: The Kia Stinger is now a police car . Jay . Ramey . . 2018-07-10 . 2018-10-31.
  27. Web site: Nauka. Arkadiusz. 2019-08-22. Policyjna grupa SPEED ma super szybkie stingery i bmw. Ściga piratów drogowych i agresywnych kierowców ZDJĘCIA. 2020-10-06. Dziennik Zachodni. pl-PL.
  28. Web site: 2018 iF Design Awards – three trophies for Kia . . 2018-02-27 . 2018-04-26.
  29. Web site: Kia triumphs again at Red Dot Design Award 2018 . . 2018-04-24 . 2018-04-26.
  30. Web site: MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards . . 2018-02-08 . 2018-02-15.
  31. Web site: 2022-10-20. 기아, 내년 4월 스팅어와 작별. AutoTimes. ko.
  32. Web site: Stephen. Rivers. 2022-12-20. Kia Ending Production Of The Stinger With Limited Tribute Edition. CarScoops. en.
  33. Web site: Adrian. Padeanu. 2022-12-21. Kia Stinger Tribute Edition Revealed To Mark The End Of Production. Motor1. en.
  34. Web site: Sales - By Month . . 2020-03-31.
  35. Web site: Sales Results . . 2023-02-06.
  36. Web site: Mexican sales 2017. 2021-10-20. inegi.org.mx. es-MX.
  37. News: Kia Stinger production ending in April 2023 - report . William Stopford . 2022-10-21 . CarExpert .
  38. Web site: Mexican sales 2018. 2021-10-20. inegi.org.mx. es-MX.
  39. News: Is the Stinger stung? Kia's performance sedan dropped from the UK market, but what does that mean for Australia? . Tim Nicholson . 2022-11-11 . .
  40. Web site: Mexican sales 2019. 2021-10-20. inegi.org.mx. es-MX.
  41. Web site: Mexican sales 2020. 2021-10-20. inegi.org.mx. es-MX.
  42. Web site: Mexican sales 2021. 2024-02-10. inegi.org.mx. es-MX.
  43. Web site: Mexican sales 2022. 2021-10-20. inegi.org.mx. es-MX.
  44. News: Misoyannis . Alex . 30 March 2023 . Kia Stinger orders stopped in Australia as production winds down . drive.com.au.
  45. News: VFACTS 2023: Car industry breaks all-time sales record . Terry Martin . 2024-01-04 . CarSales .