Kia Motors has revealed the full European specification for the new Kia Stinger, a powerful fastback sports sedan. The new Kia Stinger (hereafter Stinger) closely follows the design and engineering blueprint laid down by the 2011 Kia GT Concept, and is the highest-performance production vehicle in the company's history.
In its transition from concept to production, Kia's GT Concept was renamed 'Stinger', inspired by the GT4 Stinger concept revealed at NAIAS 2014. While the car is a true GT in nature, the Stinger name evokes speed and excitement, two key characteristics found in the production car. In Europe, the Stinger will be available with a choice of three engines: a 2.0-litre turbo gasoline engine, a powerful 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6, and a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine - expected to account for the majority of European sales.
From its sleek frontal section, through its svelte flanks, and up to its powerful haunches, the Stinger exudes a muscular confidence. Key to its road presence are its rear-wheel drive proportions - a long bonnet and short 830 mm front overhang, an extended wheelbase (2,905 mm) to deliver a spacious cabin, and a long rear overhang (1,095 mm) with strong, broad shoulders. The Stinger's stance, proportion and visual balance are designed to lend the car an air of elegance and athleticism, rather than aggression and brutality. The Stinger measures 4,830 mm in length and 1,870 mm in width, making it longer and wider than many sport sedans, and allowing for a spacious cabin and cargo area. With a 406-litre cargo capacity (VDA), the Stinger's boot can accommodate two full-size suitcases or golf bags, or four or five weekend bags for short trips away.
The 'Coke bottle' shape of the car's flanks highlight and enhance the visual power of the Stinger's shoulder line, as well as its fastback silhouette. Other purely functional elements of the exterior design - the front air curtains, wheel arch gills, smooth underbody, and integrated rear diffuser - aid its aerodynamic efficiency, enabling a drag coefficient of 0.30 Cd. The rear valance houses four oval exhaust pipes. Kia's signature 'tiger-nose' grille sits proudly between complex LED headlamps.
External gran turismo visual cues are complemented by the layout and atmosphere of the low-slung cabin, with a steeply-raked windscreen and high dashboard running along a horizontal plane. The dashboard's centre console is split into two specific areas: the infotainment controls sit neatly below a large colour touchscreen, while the climate and ventilation controls sit beneath. In front of the driver is a thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a single instrument binnacle with a combination of analogue and digital instrumentation. The large gauges are ringed in metal and accentuated with sweeping red needles. A colour TFT screen between the gauges relays performance data - such as cornering G-forces and lap times - along with ancillary information, including trip computer, driver settings, navigation and diagnostics.
Under the long bonnet of the Kia Stinger is a choice of three longitudinally-mounted turbocharged engines, each in the final stages of tuning before entering production later in 2017. With turbochargers equipped across the engine line-up, the Stinger offers drivers effortless gran turismo-style high-speed cruising and instant acceleration when called upon by the driver, with all three engines providing high power and torque across a wide band of engine speeds.
The engine anticipated to account for the majority of Stinger sales across Europe is a 2.2-litre turbodiesel, capable of producing 200 ps at 3,800 rpm. Its maximum torque output - 440 Nm - is available to drivers across a wide 1,750-2,750 rpm range, enabling the car to accelerate from 0-to-100 kph in 7.7 seconds, and on to a top speed of 225 kph.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder 'Theta' engine produces 255 ps at 6,200 rpm. Its maximum torque output - 353 Nm - is available from 1,400 to 4,000 rpm. The Stinger's most powerful engine is a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 'Lambda II' gasoline engine, with peak power of 370 ps arriving at 6,000 rpm, and 510 Nm torque accessible from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm. Stinger models powered by the 3.3-litre turbocharged engine can accelerate from 0-to-100 kph in just 5.1 seconds, making it the fastest-accelerating production Kia ever. With this engine, Kia is targeting a top speed of 270 kph.
The Stinger features the second-generation of Kia's electronic eight-speed automatic transmission, which is fitted as standard with all engines. Designed in-house, the eight-speed transmission rewards drivers with immediate shifts and optimum fuel efficiency. More typically found in aviation and racing applications, the Stinger's transmission marks Kia's first use of a Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber (CPA) torque converter, reducing torsional vibrations through the drivetrain. The transmission offers up to five different shift and throttle programmes (as well as levels of steering assistance - see below), which drivers can select through the car's electronic Drive Mode Select. Drivers can leave the car to shift for itself, or change gears with steering wheel-mounted paddles.
The Stinger is Kia's first sedan to be available with either rear- or all-wheel drive - the latter offering enhanced dynamic capability in even the most challenging conditions. In its rear-wheel drive format, power is distributed throughout the rear axle by an optional mechanical limited slip differential. The rear-biased all-wheel drive system is equipped with Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control, which monitors driver inputs and road conditions, automatically applying power and braking force to the appropriate wheels to maintain course in the wet or dry.
A choice of alloy wheels and high-performance tyres are also offered. 2.2-litre diesel models ride on 225/50R17 tyres as standard, and 2.0-litre gasoline models are fitted with 225/45 R18 tyres, while the 3.3-litre V6 is fitted with high-performance 225/40 R19 and 255/35 R19 tyres on the front and rear. 3.3-litre V6 Stinger models feature high-performance ventilated disc brakes from Brembo(r) as standard (350 mm at the front, 340 mm at the rear), with quad-piston front calipers and dual-piston rear calipers. 2.0-litre models are fitted with ventilated disc brakes - 345 mm at the front, 330 mm at the rear - while 2.2-litre diesel models are fitted with 320 ventilated disc brakes at the front and 315 mm solid disc brakes at the rear.
For added comfort and convenience, in all weather conditions, many all-wheel drive models (and some rear-wheel drive models, depending on specification) will be available with a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and rain sensing wipers. The Stinger is available with an optional Smart Power Tailgate system, enabling the boot to be opened automatically via the smart key or with a button in the cabin. The tailgate can also open itself if it detects the owner's smart key within close proximity to the rear of the car for three seconds - helpful if the owner doesn't have a spare hand to open the boot.