The newest information on the KIA Stinger GT’s future portrays a bleak picture. The development of a second generation is quite challenging. According to recent claims from a top KIA official, the saloon’s spiritual successor would be the most powerful variants of the KIA EV6, an electric vehicle.
Generalist sedans are having a difficult time right now. The offer has been drastically reduced, and the so-called “SUV fever” has spread over virtually all categories, displacing specific types of cars that were once dominant. There is a lack of demand, and producers must adapt.
The KIA Stinger is one among the vehicles that is suffering this issue.
Various publications have questioned the Stinger’s place in the KIA lineup for over a year. It jumps out in particular that the chances of the South Korean manufacturer developing a second generation of this intriguing car are slim, if not non-existent. Now, comments made by a corporate high executive hint at the tactic that will be used when the Stinger exits by the back door.
KIA EV6 GT, an electric 585 hp and all-wheel drive
The Stinger GT must be replaced by the KIA EV6.
Karim Habib, KIA’s Head of Design, made some fascinating observations about the future of the Stinger and the role the new EV6 will be called upon to perform as part of the celebration of the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show: «The Stinger spirit lives on and will continue to live on. I like to believe that the GT genes are present in the EV6. “We’re building a GT version of it with the Stinger.”
Habib went even farther, emphasizing the new EV6’s aggressive handling: “The Stinger has been a revolutionary car, opening up a whole new vision on what KIA can be, sporty and precise driving tool.” Something similar is presently being done by the EV6.
In this regard, the introduction of the EV6 GT variant, which is scheduled for 2022, will be important.
With a jingle, the Kia welcomes you. He switches the driving modes using a rotary knob on the center console: Smart, Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus. The GT intensifies the manual steering torque, tightens the damping, and binds the engine closer to the accelerator from sport onwards.
He also adjusts the leather seats’ cheeks. They encircle the upper torso and provide lateral support. Another appealing feature is that it displays the image from the side cameras on the central screen in front of the driver’s eyes when the vehicle is turning. The blind area is protected as a result of this.
Kia’s sports sedan is only available in Germany with the 3.3-liter V6 turbo engine, which produces 366 horsepower and 510 Newton meters of torque. So he’s solely based on stats at the Peugeot level. They don’t offer each other anything, even when it comes to weight. The orange four-door version is 16 kilos lighter.
In terms of acceleration, the Stinger outperforms its French counterpart. The six-cylinder accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.2 seconds and from zero to 200 kilometers per hour in 19.5 seconds.
The engine has a lively, thunderous sound, no torque defects, and a constant push from low speeds to the maximum, which is about 6,700 tours. In exchange, the V6 consumes one or more liters more.
The stinger pulls itself out of the edges in this manner without overdoing it. The all-wheel drive adjusts his rear end so that he can transition smoothly from lateral to longitudinal dynamics.
The KIA Stinger will be around for a little longer.
A tipping point will be reached, forcing the company to either debut a new generation on the market or put a stop to the sales of one of the most fascinating models in its category.
Video test of the new KIA EV6, the first in a long list of new generation electric cars
Keyword: KIA Stinger 2023 New EV6 Positions Itself as Successor