Kia Stinger

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Kia Stinger
Overview
ManufacturerKia
Model codeCK
ProductionOctober 2017[1] – April 2023[2]
Model years2018–2023
Assembly
DesignerSang-hun Ahn[5]
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size car (D)
Body style5-door liftback/fastback sedan
Layout
Related
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission8-speed A8LR1/A8TR1 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,905 mm (114.4 in)
Length4,830 mm (190.2 in)
Width1,870 mm (73.6 in)
Height1,400 mm (55.1 in)
Curb weight1,638–1,913 kg (3,611–4,217 lb)

The Kia Stinger (Korean: 기아 스팅어) is a mid-size liftback/fastback manufactured by Kia between 2017 and 2023.[7]

Overview[edit]

2011 Kia GT concept

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.[7] Design work was led by Peter Schreyer[9] and Gregory Guillaume (Kia's Chief Designer[10]) 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.[11]

Testing of the car involved over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) at the Korea International Circuit and 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.[12][7][13]

Performance[edit]

Rear view (pre-facelift)
Interior

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 188 kW (255 PS; 252 hp); and a 3,342 cc (3.3 L; 203.9 cu in) twin-turbo V6 engine that generates 272 kW (370 PS; 365 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 510 N⋅m (376 lbf⋅ft) of torque from 1,300-4,500 rpm for the AWD variant.[7] For the European and Korean markets, the Stinger is offered with a base 2.2-liter CRDi diesel I4 that produces 149 kW (202 PS; 199 hp).[8] GT variants are equipped with Brembo brakes and Michelin tires.[7][8][13] The sole transmission is an 8-speed automatic with five driving modes plus paddle-shifters.[12]

Kia claims that the Stinger accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) 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 269 km/h (167 mph) on the Autobahn.[12]

During a test by Car and Driver, an all-wheel-drive U.S. spec GT 3.3T with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires achieved 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 4.6 seconds on the track, reached 0.91 g on the skidpad and was able to stop from 70 mph (113 km/h) in 164 feet (50 m). According to this publication, the U.S. model's top speed is governed at 167 mph (269 km/h) per Kia specs.[14] In tests conducted by Motor Trend, the four-cylinder U.S. spec Stinger 2.0 RWD on Bridgestone Potenza tires reached 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.6 seconds, completed the 14-mile (0.4 km) run in 15 seconds and stopped from 60 mph (97 km/h) in 126 feet (38 m). The average lateral acceleration recorded in track testing was 0.85 g.[15][16]

Facelift[edit]

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 304 PS (224 kW; 300 hp) as well as a variable exhaust to the existing 3.3-liter Lambda II RS T-GDi that increases the power by 3 PS (2.2 kW; 3.0 hp).

The Kia Stinger was updated for the British market on 6 January 2021,[17] while the North American model was updated on 16 March 2021,[18] 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.[19]

Powertrain[edit]

Engines
Model Years Transmission Power Torque Acceleration
0–100 km/h
(0-62 mph)
(official)
Top Speed
Gasoline
Theta II 2.0 T-GDi 2017–2023 8-speed automatic 197 PS (145 kW; 194 hp) @ 6,200 rpm 36 kg⋅m (353 N⋅m; 260 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,400–3,900 rpm 8.0 s (RWD)
8.5 s (AWD)
224 km/h (139 mph)
255 PS (188 kW; 252 hp) @ 6,200 rpm 36 kg⋅m (353 N⋅m; 260 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,400–4,000 rpm 6.0 s (RWD)
6.8 s (AWD)
240 km/h (149 mph)
Smartstream 2.5 T-GDi 2020–2023 304 PS (224 kW; 300 hp) @ 5,800 rpm 43 kg⋅m (422 N⋅m; 311 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,650–4,000 rpm 5.6 s (RWD)
Lambda II 3.3 T-GDi 2017–2020 370 PS (272 kW; 365 hp) @ 6,000 rpm 52 kg⋅m (510 N⋅m; 376 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,300–4,500 rpm 4.9 s (RWD)
5.4 s (AWD)
240 km/h (149 mph)[20]
270 km/h (168 mph)[21]
2020–2023 373 PS (274 kW; 368 hp) @ 6,000 rpm
Diesel
R II 2.2 CRDi 2017–2020 8-speed automatic 202 PS (149 kW; 199 hp) @ 3,800 rpm 45 kg⋅m (441 N⋅m; 325 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,750–2,750 rpm 7.6 s (RWD) 230 km/h (143 mph)

Marketing[edit]

In June 2017, Kia Motors teamed up with GQ magazine to promote the Stinger as a "street style icon".[22]

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.[23]

On 4 February 2018, Kia released two Stinger commercials during Super Bowl LII. The first commercial features racing driver Emerson Fittipaldi.[24] The second features Aerosmith lead vocalist Steven Tyler driving the car on an oval track in reverse until he becomes 40 years younger.[25]

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.[26]

In June 2021, the judges of America's Got Talent arrived to the show in two Kia Stinger GT2 2022.[27]

Safety[edit]

Euro NCAP

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

Euro NCAP test results
Kia Stinger (2017)[28]
Test Points %
Overall:
Adult occupant: 35.4 93%
Child occupant: 39.7 81%
Pedestrian: 33.0 78%
Safety assist: 9.9 82%

Police use[edit]

In 2018, Queensland Police Service and Tasmania Police in Australia selected the Stinger 330SI as their new Road Policing car, replacing the discontinued Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore police cars.[29][30]

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.[31]

In 2021, Merseyside Police started using the Stinger.[32]

Awards[edit]

The Stinger won the iF Product Design Award in the "Transportation Design" category[33] and the Red Dot award in the "Best of the Best Car Design" category in 2018.[34]

The Stinger won the 2018 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards "Best of the Year".[35]

Discontinuation[edit]

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.[36]

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.[37][38]

Sales[edit]

Calendar year South Korea[39] Mexico United States[40] Canada[39] Europe[39] Australia Other Global[39]
2017 6,322 118[41] 843 172 1,270 504[42] 85 9,314
2018 5,700 521[43] 16,806 1,682 5,723 1,957[44] 952 33,341
2019 3,644 304[45] 13,861 1,569 5,008 1,773[44] 793 26,952
2020 3,525 143[46] 12,556 1,125 2,177 1,778[44] 490 21,794
2021 3,167 138[47] 13,517 1,229 1,677 1,407[44] 592 21,727
2022 1,984 77[48] 7,809 688 1,147 2,242[49] 1,287 15,234
2023 483 46[39] 5,452 669 1,345 1,806[50] 215 10,016
Total 24,825 1,347 70,844 7,134 18,347 11,467 4,414 138,378

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kia Stonic to launch in September, Kia Stinger in October - Europe". Indians Auto Blog. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  2. ^ Stopford, William (21 October 2022). "Kia Stinger production ending in April 2023 - report". CarExpert. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  3. ^ "2019 Kia K900 First Look: Tasteful Minimalism - Motor Trend". Motor Trend. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Avtotor has started the production of KIA Stinger | RusAutoNews.Com". RusAutoNews.Com. 15 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  5. ^ USD833332S1, Ahn, Sang Hun, "Automobile", issued 2018-11-13 
  6. ^ https://www.drive.com.au/news/electric-power-to-propel-new-kia-design/ [bare URL]
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Robinson, Aaron (1 March 2017). "2018 Kia Stinger: A Rear-Drive Shot Across the Germans' Bow". Car & Driver. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b c Prosser, Dan (19 January 2017). "Kia Stinger GT - European model lineup revealed". Evo. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  9. ^ "The Place To Be". Autoweek: 11. 6 February 2017.
  10. ^ Harley, Michael (26 June 2017). "The 2018 Kia Stinger Defies Germany's Famed Nürburgring Nordschleife Race Track". Forbes. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  11. ^ Trop, Jaclyn (17 September 2017). "New G70 Compact Sedan Helps Hyundai Define Korean Luxury For Its Genesis Brand". Forbes. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  12. ^ a b c Loh, Edward (8 January 2017). "Nine Zingers About the New Kia Stinger". Motor Trend. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  13. ^ a b Floyd, Mike (16 January 2017). "12 Things You Didn't Know About the 2018 Kia Stinger". Automobile. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Kia Stinger". Car and Driver. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  15. ^ Rogers, Cameron (14 October 2020). "2021 Kia Stinger Prices, Reviews, and Pictures | Edmunds". Edmunds.com.
  16. ^ MacKenzie, Angus (19 October 2017). "2018 Kia Stinger 2.0 First Test: Look Out BMW, Here Comes Korea". Motor Trend. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  17. ^ Trinkwon, Will (6 January 2021). "Refreshed Kia Stinger goes on sale from £42,595". Autocar. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  18. ^ Ewing, Steven (16 March 2021). "2022 Kia Stinger updates make the heart grow fonder". Roadshow (CNET). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  19. ^ García, Gerardo (3 May 2021). "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 (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  20. ^ All-season tires
  21. ^ Summer tires
  22. ^ Perry, Kevin (1 June 2017). "Kia Stinger fastback is a street style icon". GQ. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  23. ^ Person, Sam (19 December 2017). "The Cars of The Grand Tour: Season 2, Episode 3". DriveTribe. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  24. ^ "Kia is bringing the Stinger - and Emerson Fittipaldi - to the Super Bowl". Autoweek. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  25. ^ Lynch, Joe (4 February 2018). "Steven Tyler Is Forever Young In Kia Super Bowl Commercial". Billboard. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
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  27. ^ Parker, Ben (23 June 2021). "Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum Square Up in AGT Kia Ad". The News Wheel.
  28. ^ "Kia Stinger". Euro NCAP. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  29. ^ Bober, Isaac (5 July 2018). "Kia Stinger joins Queensland Police fleet". Practical Motoring. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
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  31. ^ Nauka, Arkadiusz (22 August 2019). "Policyjna grupa SPEED ma super szybkie stingery i bmw. Ściga piratów drogowych i agresywnych kierowców ZDJĘCIA". Dziennik Zachodni (in Polish). Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  32. ^ NEW Merseyside police Kia stinger responding, retrieved 14 January 2022
  33. ^ "2018 iF Design Awards – three trophies for Kia". Kia Motors. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Kia triumphs again at Red Dot Design Award 2018". Kia Motors. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  35. ^ "MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards". MotorWeek. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  36. ^ "기아, 내년 4월 스팅어와 작별". AutoTimes (in Kanuri). 20 October 2022.
  37. ^ Rivers, Stephen (20 December 2022). "Kia Ending Production Of The Stinger With Limited Tribute Edition". CarScoops.
  38. ^ Padeanu, Adrian (21 December 2022). "Kia Stinger Tribute Edition Revealed To Mark The End Of Production". Motor1.
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  40. ^ "Sales - By Month". Kia Motors. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  41. ^ "Mexican sales 2017". inegi.org.mx (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  42. ^ William Stopford (21 October 2022). "Kia Stinger production ending in April 2023 - report". CarExpert.
  43. ^ "Mexican sales 2018". inegi.org.mx (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
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  46. ^ "Mexican sales 2020". inegi.org.mx (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  47. ^ "Mexican sales 2021". inegi.org.mx (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  48. ^ "Mexican sales 2022". inegi.org.mx (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  49. ^ https://www.drive.com.au/news/kia-stinger-orders-stopped-in-australia-as-production-winds-down/K [bare URL]
  50. ^ Terry Martin (4 January 2024). "VFACTS 2023: Car industry breaks all-time sales record". CarSales.