Author: Sal Collaziano

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Kia Stinger vs Infiniti Q50

The Stinger is Kia Motors’ most bold and ambitious product ever. It’s positioned above the Optima due to its greater power, suspension and sleek, modern design – compliments of Peter Schreyer. It’s also loaded with the latest driver aid technologies like automated braking, lane keep assist, head up display and adaptive cruise control. For audiophiles, you can get a 15 speaker Harman Kardon stereo system as well!

The Infiniti Q50 is designed artfully with a muscular body. However, its performance doesn’t quite match it’s aggressive exterior. Having said that, the Q50 has almost the same features as the Stinger with adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking and a loaded infotainment system.

Exteriors
Unlike most production cars, the Stinger closely resembles the concept car which first debuted in 2011. Its stance is wide and low with a sleek roofline – complementing the aggressive grille at the front. The Stinger stands out no matter where you go – especially at night when it puts on a very nice light show. Continue reading Kia Stinger vs Infiniti Q50

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Kia Stinger vs Audi A5/S5 Sportback

The fact that Kia decided to take on the largely established luxury sedan segment with the Stinger speaks volumes about the Korean carmaker’s ambitions. What’s more, it largely succeeds in doing this as the Stinger offers almost everything available in its German rivals and at a relatively cheaper price. Kia has come a long way in the past few years, especially shedding its image of making stylish hatchbacks and SUVs that lacked the performance figures to go head to head against its rivals. With the Stinger, Kia has improved its focus on the overall performance of its product and yet maintains its design’s unique selling proposition.

Meanwhile, the Audi A5 Sportback is very much like the A4 sedan but with a fastback roofline, a big boost in performance and some minor interior/exterior tweaks.

So does the Kia Stinger manage to hold its own against the A5 and S5 Sportbacks from Audi? Let’s have a look…

The Exteriors
The aggressively styled Stinger is a step forward for the South Korean carmaker. Unlike most production cars, the Stinger closely resembles the appearance of the concept car which first debuted in 2011. Its stance is wide and low with a sleek roofline complementing the aggressive grille at the front. This helps the car stand out in a crowded parking lot many different cars.

The A5 and S5 Sportback are pretty similar in design except the latter has sharper lines down the side, larger headlights that run up to the hood and a much larger “Audiesque” grille.

Stretching 190 inches long, standing at 55 inches high and with a width of 77 inches (excluding mirrors), the Kia Stinger is much larger than most of the cars in its segment, including the A5 and S5 Sportback. While the Sportback version of the A5 is 186 inches long, the S5 is 187 inches. Both stand tall at 54 inches and have the same width of 72 inches. Continue reading Kia Stinger vs Audi A5/S5 Sportback

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Kia Stinger vs BMW Gran Coupe

Kia has come a long way in the past few years, especially shedding its image of making stylish hatchbacks and CUVs that lacked the performance figures to go head to head against its rivals. With the Stinger, Kia has improved its focus on the overall performance of its product and yet maintains its design USP. The aggressively styled sedan is a step forward for the South Korean carmaker as it takes on the likes of BMW, Audi, Infiniti and other brands. The performance figures of the Stinger are sure to surprise you – but not as much as its modest price. Especially when you consider its German counterpart which is way above the Kia’s price bracket.

The BMW Gran Coupe 430i and 440i, on the other hand, complete the 4 series along with the Coupe and Convertible. While these have been traditionally a part of the 3 series, the upward naming is largely in response to Audi’s A5 range.

Exteriors

The Stinger shares many of its dimensions with the Kia Optima – but is positioned above the latter due to its greater power, suspension and sleek, modern design – thanks to the chiefs Gregory Guillaume and Peter Schreyer. Unlike most production cars, the Stinger matches the good looks of the concept car which first debuted in 2011. Its stance is wide and low with a sleek roofline complementing the aggressive grille at the front. This helps the Stinger stand out in a crowded parking lot. What’s more, stretching 190 inches long, standing at 55 inches and with a width of 77 inches (excluding mirrors), the Stinger is larger than most of the cars in its segment. Additionally, Continental’s 18 inch alloys shod in 225/45 R18 and suspended at front axle on MacPhersons add more substance to the Stinger’s design. It’s safe to say the Stinger makes plenty of heads turn on the road thanks to its beautiful, sleek and unique design. Continue reading Kia Stinger vs BMW Gran Coupe

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JB4 Smart Phone Wireless Connect Kit (Rev. 3.6)

jb4 mobile software bluetooth data cable tuner ecu

Wirelessly connect and control your JB4 with your phone!

The JB4 Connect Kit (Rev 3.6) allows your Bluetooth 4.0 compatible iOS and Android devices to connect wirelessly to your JB4. View critical engine data in real time, data log, read codes, change maps, update settings, update firmware, and more, all from the palm of your hand! The REV3 mounts next to the JB4 in the engine bay eliminating the need to run a BMS DATA cable inside the cabin. It’s compatible with all JB4 products. Just plug it in to the JB4 where your BMS DATA cable connects, attach the power and ground wire to the JB4 harness using the included connectors, purchase the JB4 Mobile app, and you’re off and running.

Please note the JB4 Mobile app is available for both iOS or Android and sold separately via the iOS or Android app store on your phone. This adapter is not compatible with the JB4 windows interface.

Key Features:

• Connect and control your JB4 tuner wirelessly
• Monitor your vehicle with a variety of live gauges
• Take logs to tune your vehicle to perfection
• Graph/email your logs to review performance
• Read/Delete error codes
• Change maps
• Change user adjustment/methanol settings
• Update JB4 firmware
• Custom gauge colors/themes
• Charge your phone while using JB4 software

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Should you go with an aftermarket badge? Or an OEM badge?

kia stinger badges

For Kia Stinger owners, it’s the question of all questions.

Should I buy an aftermarket badge? Or should I go for the OEM “E” badge for the hood (or hatch) and the OEM “Stinger” badge for the hatch? It’s the greatest dilemma of all time. 

Here’s what I’ve learned after spending the past several years buying and selling badges… If you’re the type of person who will examine a badge under a microscope – if you specifically look for something to say, “Aha! It’s less than absolutely perfect!” – there’s a good chance you’re going to find something.

On one hand there’s really nothing wrong with this. I mean – who doesn’t want the best possible product? On the other hand, nobody is going to examine the badge on your car THAT closely. For 99% of people, aftermarket badges will look just as good (or better) than OEM badges.

If you’re a man looking for an attractive female life partner and you meet a beautiful woman who you want to grow old with – you will find issues if you examine her under a microscope. You can either settle for an imperfect woman – or grow old alone. The choice – is yours…

At least in the world of Kia Stinger badges, you CAN get that perfect badge. And that’s the OEM product. ALL…

All aftermarket badges and emblems have imperfections. All of them. Nobody has the cash of OEMs to design and develop the badge of the Gods. That being said, if you’re looking for the absolute best-built, highest quality, closest to OEM badges for your Kia Stinger on the market – here are your options:

Vintage K hood badge/emblem | Vintage K hatch badge/emblem | Vintage K Rebadge Set | Vintage K FULL Rebadge Set

Those are, in my personal opinion, your only real, true, high quality options. If you’ve seen something that you swear is just as high quality as these examples, please, feel free to comment below. But so far, in my experience, the links above link to “the best of the best”…