KIA's All-New Stinger Set To Pull Stinging Punches

Kia Motors has revealed the full European specification for the new Kia Stinger, a powerful fastback sports sedan. The new Kia 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.

The Stinger channels the spirit of historic grand tourers – powerful, elegant vehicles capable of moving their owners in style and speed. At every stage of development, the Stinger has been designed and engineered to be the perfect gran turismo. The car features a head-turning aesthetic, with ample room to accommodate five occupants and their luggage. The Stinger provides a stable, unruffled ride and nimble handling with engaging power delivery to the rear wheels.

In its transition from concept revealed at NAIAS 2014, Kia’s GT Concept was finally named ‘Stinger’ at production stage. While the car is a true GT in nature, the Stinger name evokes speed and excitement, two key characteristics found in the production car.

Mr Eric Chan, Managing Director, Cycle & Carriage Singapore, said, “This has been a few years in the making, and we are extremely excited to finally be able to bring the Stinger to the Singapore market. The Stinger is a sleek performance car that unites techonology and design. I am confident that this Kia flagship will be able to raise perceptions for the brand and change the mindset that Kia is just a mass market car manufacturer. Kia. This is the car that will truly go beyond any expectation. ”

Turning a concept into a production car is no small feat. Kia’s European design studio in Frankfurt – birthplace of the 2011 GT concept – has brought the Stinger to life, overseen by Peter Schreyer, Chief Design Officer of Kia Motors, and Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer at Kia Motors Europe.

Guillaume comments, “The Kia Stinger is a true gran turismo, a car for spirited long-distance driving. It’s not about outright power, hard-edged dynamics and brutal styling, all at the expense of luxury, comfort and grace. The Kia Stinger has nothing to do with being the first to arrive at the destination – this car is all about the journey. It’s about passion.”

From its sleek frontal section through its svelte flanks up to its powerful haunches, the Stinger exudes 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. Elements of the exterior design – the front air curtains, wheel arch gills, smooth underbody, and integrated rear diffuser – add to its svelte looks as well as aid its aerodynamic efficiency, enabling a drag coefficient of 0.30 Cd. The rear bumper houses four oval exhaust pipes. Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille sits proudly between full 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 8-inch touchscreen, with the climate and ventilation controls beneath. In front of the driver is a leather-wrapped flat-bottom 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 creating a sense of sportiness underpinned by chic elegance. A 7-inch 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, and diagnostics combing track inspired displays through a premium look and feel.

Aeronautically-inspired spoked circular vents feature in the front and rear, while a strip of satin chrome encircles the cabin highlighting contrast areas in the classic black interior trim with a luxurious touch . The effect is a feeling of cocooned intimacy. However, the long wheelbase, four-door body, and fastback silhouette allow for generous front and rear leg room, and the low seating position provides ample head room for all passengers. In its lowest setting, the driver’s seat is just 180 mm above the road for a low-slung, performance-oriented driving position to satisfy drivers with a sporty feel whike keeping rear occupants in plush comfort through individual rear seats.

Delivering a bona fide premium car experience particularly for the GT trim, the Stinger’s deeply-contoured seats are available with ultra-soft Nappa leather found typically in ultra-luxury cars, while the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat is available with four way air-cell lumbar support in the seatback and side bolsters for optimal comfort. Both Stinger variants come with a wide sunroof that enhances the ambiance of the interior, allowing more skylight to flood the cabin and improve the outwards view for every passenger. The headliner of the car comes in suede, accentuating premium sportiness in the true gran-tourer sense.

Under the long bonnet of the Kia Stinger is a choice of two longitudinally-mounted turbocharged engines offering drivers effortless high-speed cruising and instant acceleration with both engines providing high power and torque across a wide band of engine speeds.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder ‘Theta’ engine produces 247 ps at 6,200 rpm with a maximum torque output of 353 Nm at 1,400 rpm. The 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 ‘Lambda II’ engine delivers its peak power of 370 ps at 6,000 rpm, while the full 510 Nm torque is accessible from 1,300 rpm. The GT model powered by the 3.3-litre turbocharged engine can accelerate from 0-to-100 kph in just 4.9 seconds, making it the fastest-accelerating production Kia ever. With this engine, the Stinger will reach 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 both 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 by itself, or change gears with steering wheel-mounted paddles. Power is distributed to the rear axle by an optional mechanical limited slip differential, fitted as standard on the GT specification of the Stinger.

Kia has sought to create a car with driving dynamics that lives up to its stunning design. To fulfil this brief, the Stinger’s ride and handling were honed at Germany’s infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife, under the watch of Albert Biermann, Head of Kia’s Performance Development and High Performance Vehicles. A grand tourer by design and by nature, the Stinger’s test regime was established to make it capable of taking every kind of road in its stride.

Comprised of 55 percent Advanced High Strength Steel, the Stinger’s bodyshell provides an ultra-stiff foundation for the car’s suspension components, and contributes to reduced noise and vibration for a quiet cabin.

The MacPherson strut front suspension system has been tuned to optimise feedback to the driver, as well as maximise steering response and stability in all conditions. At the rear, a multi-link setup aids handling responses, with a reinforced anti-roll bar for high stability and minimal body vibrations.

The Stinger GT also features an electronically-adjustable suspension system, Dynamic Stability Damping Control (DSDC). While always reacting predictably to the driver’s inputs, the system can be tuned via the Drive Mode Select depending on road conditions and driving style. The system is able to soften the front suspension and firm the rear suspension for greater agility, reducing understeer, as well as being able to stiffen the front and slacken the rear slightly to combat oversteer and ensure greater stability. Drivers can choose from five drive modes: Eco, Sport, Sport+, Comfort and Smart.

Also fitted as standard on the GT variant, a variable ratio rack-mounted motor driven power steering system (R-MDPS) features an electric motor mounted directly on the steering rack, which affords more immediate responses and reduced vibration compared to systems with column-mounted motors. Steering assistance and weight is also adjustable via the Drive Mode Select system.

High performance tyres are also offered with the 2.0-litre models fitted with 225/45 R18 18-inch tyres, with the 3.3-litre V6 version fitted with staggered 225/40 R19 and 255/35 R19 19-inch tyres on the front and rear respectively. Stinger GT models feature 18-inch ventilated disc brakes from Brembo® as standard (350 mm at the front, 340 mm at the rear), with 4-piston front calipers and 2-piston rear calipers. 2.0-litre models are fitted with ventilated disc brakes – 345 mm at the front, 330 mm at the rear.

The Stinger GT trim is equipped with Blind Spot Detection, a system that triggers oncoming cars in your blind spot while changing lane. All Stinger variants are equipped with Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), ensuring stability under braking and cornering by controlling the car’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) if it detects a loss of traction.

The Stinger’s passive safety is underpinned by the body structure’s high proportion of Advanced High Strength Steel, as well as seven standard airbags (driver and front passenger, front side, curtain and driver knee airbags).

The Stinger reflects Kia’s focus on offering the latest infotainment systems and driver technologies. A height-adjustable Head-Up Display (HUD) enables the driver to see key driving information reflected on the glass of the windscreen, including speed, and Blind Spot Detection information. Resting within the centre console is a wireless smartphone charging pad, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay connectivity with Bluetooth integration - all standard across the Stinger line-up.

Long distance travel is a hallmark of a great driving experience, and high-quality audio systems guarantee an immersive acoustic experience as the miles sweep by. Stinger GT variants come with a powerful 720-watt, 15-speaker Harman-Kardon® surround-sound audio system. The Harman-Kardon® system features a pair of subwoofers mounted beneath the driver and front passenger seats, as well as Clari-Fi™ music restoration technology that rebuilds audio signals lost in the digital compression process. This technology returns a high-fidelity listening experience to any compressed digital source. The system also comes equipped with next-generation QuantumLogic™ Surround Sound technology, which extracts signals from the original recording and redistributes them into an authentic, multi-dimensional soundstage for playback that is clear, refined and full of detail.

For added comfort and convenience, all Stinger models will be available with heated and ventilated front seats as well as heated rear seats, and rain sensing wipers. The Stinger is available with a 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.

The Stinger GT-Line 2.0 retails at $168,000*
The Stinger GT 3.3 retails at $208,999*
*Prices correct at time of publication

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