Kia believes that the Stinger can be a next big thing for them, but it is difficult to talk about the future of this model, and only the market will tell. However, the Stinger GT is indeed promising, but launching a four-door saloon aiming to compete against big dogs from Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Alfa, is an audacious but risky step.The new 2018 Kia Stinger GT may be perceived differently by the Europeans because, in other parts of the world, large and expensive Kia saloons such as K900 and Cadenza are already on sale.
The Stinger will definitely make a statement, whatever your perspective is. “We’re done with paddling in the shallow end,” it says, “and we’re tired of playing second fiddle to that bigger sibling brand. We’re a world-class car-making outfit. And anything that Europe can do…”
According to Kia, the new Stinger is a four-door executive ‘gran turismo’ done with style, elegance, and dynamism of a blue-chip European manufacturer. These aren’t just empty words because the prototype of the Stinger GT has been tested on public roads and it has been taken to the Nurburgring track where it had a chance to show off its twin-turbo V6 petrol which produces 370hp. Furthermore, the GT is equipped with adaptively damped chassis, which promises excellent pace and handling, similar to those on an Audi S4 or a BMW 440i.
Some people will like the 2018 Kia Stinger GT, the others might find it unattractive, but the fact is that this model has better proportions than a regular executive saloon. The GT comes with a long wheelbase, and it is lower and wider in comparison to the European competition. We can say that the Stinger GT has a perfect mix of sporting and refined styling touches.
Unlike the other vehicles in this segment, this Kia’s creation comes with a slightly lower driving position, and this is immediately noticeable once you are seated behind the wheel. Kia has outdone itself with luxurious features in the cabin with a freestanding tablet-like 8-inch infotainment display in the middle. However, not all of the elements are upscale. When it comes to space inside the cabin, the Stinger GT has a decent amount of legroom and cargo capacity, whereas the headroom can be problematic for the passengers in the second row.
The Stinger GT uses a steel platform and a 3.3-liter turbo V6 engine that are both adopted from theHyundai Genesis G80 Coupe, and even though Kia’s new model has a few extra pounds, this unit proved to be a good choice as it is quick and powerful. The powerplant is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox which is slightly slower than we expected it to be, but it is still fine.
When Kia produced this vehicle, they didn’t want to go against the most grippy and agile cars in this segment, so they went for a more laid-back and comfortable compromise which definitely makes the Stinger GT suited to long-distance touring, but still engaging and fun to drive. Stinger appears to be a good vehicle to have at the race track because it has a decent grip and solid body control.
2018 Kia Stinger GT Price
The European-sourced performance tires are standard, and they are wrapping 19-inch wheels. Thanks to all this, the 2018 Kia Stinger GT has fine steering weight and mid-corner handling adjustability which distinguishes this model from the other premium-brand cars. This car has yet to live up to its potential, and we cannot wait to sit behind a production version which is supposed to go on sale in January 2018. The starting price of this model will be £42,000. We will definitely see more of the Kia Stinger GT.
