Stinger Production to end in Q2 2022

[MerlintheMad]

IMO this version of the Stinger as we know it is finished, Kia will either offer a new version of the “Stinger” with a restyled body, trim etc + 3.5TT engine or the EV6 GT will become Kia’s new halo performance car moving forward, I believe the latter would be the most likely business case.

How can an SUV be a "performance model" in anything but a straight line. "Zero to Sixty in Five." Oo, sign me up.

I like the sound of hydrogen power: would be everything an ICE with petrol is, but clean. I'm sure the electricity grid increase to hydrogen production would be a fraction of what would be required to charge a couple hundred million batteries every night.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

How can an SUV be a "performance model" in anything but a straight line. "Zero to Sixty in Five." Oo, sign me up.

I like the sound of hydrogen power: would be everything an ICE with petrol is, but clean. I'm sure the electricity grid increase to hydrogen production would be a fraction of what would be required to charge a couple hundred million batteries every night.

Hahahaha, you know nothing the “GT“ does 0-100kmh in 3.5 seconds, read the attached article you may be informed.
You‘ve obviously never heard of a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk either, just another excuse for you to post about.

Kia EV6 GT 2023: Australian tuning underway after 430kW EV completes Nurburgring testing

The Kia EV6 GT is almost ready to go on sale in Australia and the local engineering team reckon they’ve struck the right balance between comfort and performance

www.chasingcars.com.au

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hahahaha, you know nothing the “GT“ does 0-100kmh in 3.5 seconds, read the attached article you may be informed.
You‘ve obviously never heard of a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk either, just another excuse for you to post about.

Kia EV6 GT 2023: Australian tuning underway after 430kW EV completes Nurburgring testing

The Kia EV6 GT is almost ready to go on sale in Australia and the local engineering team reckon they’ve struck the right balance between comfort and performance

www.chasingcars.com.au

Yeah I know. It's the title of an instrumental by Pablo Cruise: that was back then. We already know that EVs out accelerate ICE cars. They also have no soul and are not the answer to any "green" objections, or practicality en masse.

 

[Davidoyo]

IMO this version of the Stinger as we know it is finished, Kia will either offer a new version of the “Stinger” with a restyled body, trim etc + 3.5TT engine or the EV6 GT will become Kia’s new halo performance car moving forward, I believe the latter would be the most likely business case.

I agree. I am unfortunately leaning towards the EV/hydrogen variant of the Stinger happening.

 

[davebo]

I certainly wouldn't call the EV6 an SUV. We were gonna replace my 2012 Optima SX with one but I went to sit in it and it's barely any taller than the Optima. My wife actually wants me to look at a Ford Mach-E just to have a taller ride height for dealing with the child seat but we'll see. I was pleasantly surprised how low it was, barely even CUV height. Now, SUV WEIGHT, yes. Thing is 5,500lbs. But in terms of handling, if what you want is something that turns like it's on rails then a 3,800lbs Stinger isn't great either, so it's all a matter of how much compromise for what benefit you want.

 

[Transmetal]

I think the EV6 is kinda ugly. Especially the back. The Mustang Mach E looks better but I wouldn't want that either. I like cars, ain't no SUV, CUV that can touch how cars can handle imo. I'm just glad I was able to own the Stinger before it's cancelled. Unlike the Pontiac G8/Chevy SS I wanted to get when those were still in production.

 

[Eric OHalloran]

It is important to note that they are talking about “Sluggish sales” for KDM Stingers only. US Stinger sales have picked up nicely now.

It is inevitable that the Stinger will be replaced by an Electric vehicle eventually. Everything is going Electric now. There is no denying it.

God forbid... it is sad that the EV will replace the combustible engine.

 

[KAS]

I think the EV6 is kinda ugly. Especially the back. The Mustang Mach E looks better but I wouldn't want that either. I like cars, ain't no SUV, CUV that can touch how cars can handle imo. I'm just glad I was able to own the Stinger before it's cancelled. Unlike the Pontiac G8/Chevy SS I wanted to get when those were still in production.

If it makes you feel any better, those who have owned both report that the Stinger is light-years ahead of the G8/SS.

 

[Transmetal]

If it makes you feel any better, those who have owned both report that the Stinger is light-years ahead of the G8/SS.

I know the Stinger is, I'd still want one. Plus, the LS has much more potential. In a perfect world I'd have my Stinger, Lightning, and a G8/SS

The dealership I bought my Stinger at actually has a Chevy SS for sale. It's ONLY 41 grand for a 2017 with 65k. That actually makes the 2022 Scorpion they have for sale for 54k sound like a good deal.

 

[MerlintheMad]

God forbid... it is sad that the EV will replace the combustible engine.

Hydrogen will probably save the ICE.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hydrogen will probably save the ICE.

Scientist Develop Technique of Turning Water into Hydrogen Fuel at Room Temperature

 

[GPhenom]

I would love an EV Stinger. Combine it with solar panels on a house and you can save lots of money on fuel.

I remember reading an article a while back where one of the head honchos at Kia insinuated that the Stinger would live on as an EV in some way, shape or form that wasn't the EV6. It's possible they will change the name. But most ppl are so fond of the Stinger that I think they will keep it.

 

[AdrianG]

Hydrogen/electric hybrid vehicles are the most likely advancement I can see taking place. This all out push to all electric vehicles is ludicrous, quite frankly.
Recent developments in hydrogen technology are impressive.
Hyundai appears to potentially be leading the charge on hydrogen/electric vehicles (the Vision 74 looks incredible), but some other automakers may be pretty involved and I just don't know about it.
A hydrogen/electric Stinger could be very interesting.

 

[bfglitch]

The question is, where are there hydrogen fueling stations at currently, and how long would it take for there be enough hydrogen fueling stations to make it practical?

 

[rpoffen]

The question is, where are there hydrogen fueling stations at currently, and how long would it take for there be enough hydrogen fueling stations to make it practical?

Most bulk hydrogen today comes from steam reformation of fossil fuels, so it is still using non-renewable resources. Since fossil fuels contain a significant amount carbon, this carbon would then be a waste product, not sure what they do with it.
Yes, it can be separated from water (electrolysis), but it takes at least as much energy to do it as you will get out of it, and of course there are losses along the way, just the laws of physics, conservation of energy, etc.
Granted, the actual burning of hydrogen is clean, although I would imagine that direct combustion of hydrogen in air (76% nitrogen) would produce NOx which is still a pollutant, then generation of hydrogen itself is not without concerns for certain waste products.
Handling of hydrogen is very risky, it is colorless, odorless and extremely flammable. Since it is only liquid at extreme cryogenic temperatures, it would have to be highly compressed to be able to store enough in a car for a reasonable range.
You think gasoline in a tank is an explosion hazard, hydrogen is way worse.

 

[AdrianG]

The question is, where are there hydrogen fueling stations at currently, and how long would it take for there be enough hydrogen fueling stations to make it practical?

No idea on current hydrogen fueling stations, and I couldn't answer the second question very accurately without doing some serious research. But, with recent developments in hydrogen technology I do believe it would be a lot more readily available than gasoline, as in you wouldn't have to ship it halfway across a continent to your local gas station. It could even come to the point that it is inexpensive enough that one could literally fuel their hydrogen car at home, but maybe that's a pipe dream.

 

[SFM]

It looks like the Stinger has been discontinued for the UAE. It has been removed from Kia's UAE website, and dealerships hadn't received any new Stingers for a while when I asked them. I tried accessing the Stinger's page on their website using the direct link, but now the link redirects to the Kia Picanto.

 

[davebo]

but now the link redirects to the Kia Picanto.

That's a hell of a downgrade from the Stinger.

 

[AnalogMan]

FWIW, I suspect the 'rumor' is true, for several reasons.

Kia hasn't been advertising or giving any real marketing support to the Stinger for a while. It's clearly an anomaly in their product lineup. Most Kia dealers and salespeople don't know what to do with it.

I think part of the reason Kia hasn't supported the Stinger is because of Hyundai's fear of cannibalization of Genesis sales. The equivalent Genesis costs more than the Stinger, and Genesis is Hyundai's 'premium' brand. The high-end Stinger was always a fish out of water at Kia, which is their corporate 'bargain' brand (even though I personally think the Stinger is much better looking and a nicer car overall than the G70).

I think the company never really thought through how to position the Stinger as part of Kia. The Genesis line was launched before the Stinger appeared in Kia's lineup. As such, it never really made sense - to have a higher end, near-luxury, high performance car stuck in a lower-price franchise? It would have made more sense to brand it a Genesis.

As @CDv6 said, Kia has the K5, a car that looks a lot like the Stinger, but with FWD only and a 4 cylinder engine, along with a lower price, fits in more logically than the Stinger did.

Lastly, 'sedans' are not popular in the U.S. market. In this country it's all CUV/SUV's all the time. Ford even discontinued all its passenger cars in the U.S. (except for the Mustang, and even there they introduced the Mach E EV SUV). It's hard for any sedan to make a business case, let alone with all the confounding issues facing the Stinger.

I personally don't want a CUV/SUV. I'm thrilled I was able to buy a Stinger, though I will miss not being able to replace it with another one down the road. It just means I'll have to take extra-good care of it, because it's going to have to last me a long time (along with a Mustang GT and a Subaru BRZ). They might be the last ICE cars I'll be buying in my lifetime.

Enjoy the Stinger while we can. These are are autumn days of high-performance ICE cars in general. The time of soulless, anodyne, autonomous EV appliance boxes is coming. Cars like the Stinger are just plain fun, having the car directly hard-wired into your central nervous system. I look forward to driving it, something that for me would never happen with an EV. Once cars like the Stinger are gone, it's very unlikely they'll be back. Get out and drive, enjoy it while you have it.

 

[Peter@K8StingerStore]

Here we are in Q4 of 2022 and the stinger is still available for a 2023 model year for production. Whats everyones thoughts?