2020 Stinger Rumors

[MerlintheMad]

New here, but looks like they just tossed the GTS up on the site build configurator with late July 2019 as an expected arrival. I originally thought it was due for 2020? Who knows, I'm itching to buy a GT1 bad...but waiting to see what small little tweaks are expected for 2020 before I do.

Welcome, Ninja. I do not understand your self control (patience). Waiting for a niggling difference is denying yourself months (extended to years if this tendency of yours becomes OC) of driving FUN. But, you're the bosk of you.

 

[GNS]

Completely agree. Why we have to pay $1500 extra for the 20th Anniversary edition to get red leather is silly. The rest of that package is useless to me. Don't like the wheels, red stitching on the carpeted mats is useless because I replace them with rubber ones, carbon interior is standard on the lower GT trim so not sure why it's an up charge now.

Just for clarity, the alcantara headliner is not a 20th anniversary model feature, it's a GT Ltd. feature

Is the carbon interior really standard now? Nice.

 

[Ninjawasaki]

Welcome, Ninja. I do not understand your self control (patience). Waiting for a niggling difference is denying yourself months (extended to years if this tendency of yours becomes OC) of driving FUN. But, you're the bosk of you.

Haha it's not easy for sure. "Fortunately", it's the busy time of year for traveling with work. The only dealers with a good allotment are over an hour away, so that helps when I'm only home for a day or two. I love the car though, can't stop thinking about it since I took one for a spin a few weeks ago haha. I'll be coming from a '16 Mustang GT PP, so I can still have fun till it's Stinger time.

 

[SKStinger]

Is the carbon interior really standard now? Nice.

It always was on the Canadian Stinger GT. The GT Ltd. gets the aluminum interior trim.

 

[Revvdmedia]

Haha it's not easy for sure. "Fortunately", it's the busy time of year for traveling with work. The only dealers with a good allotment are over an hour away, so that helps when I'm only home for a day or two. I love the car though, can't stop thinking about it since I took one for a spin a few weeks ago haha. I'll be coming from a '16 Mustang GT PP, so I can still have fun till it's Stinger time.

I too came from a Mustang ('15 GT, modded). Why are you getting out of yours? Just time for a change?

 

[GNS]

It always was on the Canadian Stinger GT. The GT Ltd. gets the aluminum interior trim.

I like the carbon trim better, honestly.

 

[Ninjawasaki]

I too came from a Mustang ('15 GT, modded). Why are you getting out of yours? Just time for a change?

Glad I'm not the only one haha. I do love the stang, nothing wrong with the car really. Just looking for something a little more versatile but still fun. I don't really do autoX's or track days anymore as my traveling doesn't slow down till the fall/winter when none of that is going on anymore. Getting to the mountains to hit the curvy roads is about 2 hours away, so I'm just not really getting to utilize the car the way I wanted. Plus, I do have a bike still if I want to hit the fun stuff.

The fact that the Stinger is a hatchback sweetens the deal even more. I had a '05 rsx type s eons ago, and I didnt realize how much I loved a hatchback till it was gone haha. It took me a minute, but I began to realize the Stinger offered pretty much everything I was looking for in layout, comfort and style. Then when I took it for a spin, I was blown away. I didn't really think it was going to be that good. I really think it's going to be a car I will be happy with for a long time.

 

[westcoastGT]

Completely agree. Why we have to pay $1500 extra for the 20th Anniversary edition to get red leather is silly. The rest of that package is useless to me. Don't like the wheels, red stitching on the carpeted mats is useless because I replace them with rubber ones, carbon interior is standard on the lower GT trim so not sure why it's an up charge now.

Just for clarity, the alcantara headliner is not a 20th anniversary model feature, it's a GT Ltd. feature

Isn't CF is on the exterior trim ??

 

[Suzanne]

I wish. You'll have to order that separately (waiting on the CF mirror caps to come in); Only that new special edition coming out in Federation Orange will have that stock. Hopefully Canada will get that although not too sure how I feel about that orange colour.

 

[CKeeler]

Glad I'm not the only one haha. I do love the stang, nothing wrong with the car really. Just looking for something a little more versatile but still fun. I don't really do autoX's or track days anymore as my traveling doesn't slow down till the fall/winter when none of that is going on anymore. Getting to the mountains to hit the curvy roads is about 2 hours away, so I'm just not really getting to utilize the car the way I wanted. Plus, I do have a bike still if I want to hit the fun stuff.

The fact that the Stinger is a hatchback sweetens the deal even more. I had a '05 rsx type s eons ago, and I didnt realize how much I loved a hatchback till it was gone haha. It took me a minute, but I began to realize the Stinger offered pretty much everything I was looking for in layout, comfort and style. Then when I took it for a spin, I was blown away. I didn't really think it was going to be that good. I really think it's going to be a car I will be happy with for a long time.

These were my exact reasons for coming from an ‘06 Mustang to the Stinger instead of going for a 2019 Mustang

 

[pkarandi]

New here, but looks like they just tossed the GTS up on the site build configurator with late July 2019 as an expected arrival. I originally thought it was due for 2020? Who knows, I'm itching to buy a GT1 bad...but waiting to see what small little tweaks are expected for 2020 before I do.

I know the GTS version has the Kia badge removed from the back, and replaced with the large Stinger script across the center. Anyone have any thoughts on whether this will also be the badging arrangement for the regular edition Stingers? I realize that nobody has any real inside information, but did the other special editions (Atlantica) have different badging? If so, then it stands to reason the 2020 standard editions will stay the old way. I would really like the new GTS arrangement on the 2020 GT2 model. That would save me the effort of having to do it myself!

 

[pkarandi]

Oh, also Ninja - it's funny reading your posts. I feel like I could have written them myself. I am also ITCHING to get me a Stinger. I finally decided to pull the trigger and there are now no red/black GT2 AWD's in northern VA. Closest one is in NJ, but they won't come down on the price much, so I'm waiting patiently (sort of ) for the 2020's to come out! Of course, lurking here daily is not helping...

On a side note: I used to ride a 2001 ZX-9R. Stopped riding about 10 years ago...

 

[Sabs]

Anyone have any thoughts on whether this will also be the badging arrangement for the regular edition Stingers?

Long reply but here’s my take.

Special edition cars are an easy way for manufacturers to grab a few more buyers with minimal development cost. More importantly, though, it gives them a “new” car for news outlets to latch onto. That essentially gives them free advertising.

In the case of the GTS, everything but D-AWD and the paint was already available in the Korean market. The emblem change is just another inexpensive way to make the car special.

I don’t think we’ll see the emblem change on standard models - partly due to it being a unique feature of the GTS in the USA. The other reason I don’t think it will change for standard models is branding. I think they want a “Kia” emblem visible front and back to help the brand name be seen. This car isn’t being built with the expectation of profit, but for brand recognition and reputation.

 

[Ninjawasaki]

Oh, also Ninja - it's funny reading your posts. I feel like I could have written them myself. I am also ITCHING to get me a Stinger. I finally decided to pull the trigger and there are now no red/black GT2 AWD's in northern VA. Closest one is in NJ, but they won't come down on the price much, so I'm waiting patiently (sort of ) for the 2020's to come out! Of course, lurking here daily is not helping...

On a side note: I used to ride a 2001 ZX-9R. Stopped riding about 10 years ago...

Nice! Those old ZX-9R's were great bikes. Kinda bummed with the current Kawi offerings.

Theres a black/red GT2 down here by me at sonskia.com in mcdonough, ga. Bit of a drive for ya, but probably a pretty one and theres worse cars to make the trip in haha. When I went in they seemed ready to make a deal on them, they've had the same 3 for at least the past couple months. I'm pretty much set on RWD, unless the 2020 AWD comes with a limited slip rear like on the GTS. Then I might have to reconsider the AWD route.

 

[pkarandi]

Nice! Those old ZX-9R's were great bikes. Kinda bummed with the current Kawi offerings.

Theres a black/red GT2 down here by me at sonskia.com in mcdonough, ga. Bit of a drive for ya, but probably a pretty one and theres worse cars to make the trip in haha. When I went in they seemed ready to make a deal on them, they've had the same 3 for at least the past couple months. I'm pretty much set on RWD, unless the 2020 AWD comes with a limited slip rear like on the GTS. Then I might have to reconsider the AWD route.

Aww man! You had me all excited. (and confused because I didn't see any red ones in GA on cars.com) Then I realized you wrote BLACK/red! I'm looking for red exterior.

Yes, I loved that ZX-9. It was like the Stinger in many ways. Respectable performance (although out-performed by the hard-core bikes at the time), but still comfortable for long hauls. That middle-ground leaning on the sport side is the sweet spot I think.

 

[Ninjawasaki]

Aww man! You had me all excited. (and confused because I didn't see any red ones in GA on cars.com) Then I realized you wrote BLACK/red! I'm looking for red exterior.

Yes, I loved that ZX-9. It was like the Stinger in many ways. Respectable performance (although out-performed by the hard-core bikes at the time), but still comfortable for long hauls. That middle-ground leaning on the sport side is the sweet spot I think.

My bad! jimellieskiaofkennesaw.com looks like they have a red GT2 on the way and a GT1 in stock judging by their site. That's probably where I will end up getting mine as they have a good selection of RWD. They made me a pretty solid initial deal on a GT1, being in Kennesaw you won't have to drive through ATL, so there's that haha.

That's funny, I was thinking the Stinger reminds me of my old '10 Z1000.

 

[pkarandi]

Long reply but here’s my take.

Special edition cars are an easy way for manufacturers to grab a few more buyers with minimal development cost. More importantly, though, it gives them a “new” car for news outlets to latch onto. That essentially gives them free advertising.

In the case of the GTS, everything but D-AWD and the paint was already available in the Korean market. The emblem change is just another inexpensive way to make the car special.

I don’t think we’ll see the emblem change on standard models - partly due to it being a unique feature of the GTS in the USA. The other reason I don’t think it will change for standard models is branding. I think they want a “Kia” emblem visible front and back to help the brand name be seen. This car isn’t being built with the expectation of profit, but for brand recognition and reputation.

Thanks for the explanation. Makes sense. I'm not 100% going to change the rear badging anyway. The Kia badge has grown on me. Also, I view the Stinger as sort of the "anti-snob" sports car, and removing the badge goes against that logic. Eh, either way, I'm going to end up with an awesome car!

I do like how Hyundai and Kia are working so aggressively to change from bargain brands to mainstream reliable and performance oriented brands. Most friends are surprised when I say I'm going to get a Kia, but a few of them who have been researching sedans and SUV's recently were telling me how Kia has been showing up at the tops of many of their lists!

 

[pkarandi]

My bad! jimellieskiaofkennesaw.com looks like they have a red GT2 on the way and a GT1 in stock judging by their site. That's probably where I will end up getting mine as they have a good selection of RWD. They made me a pretty solid initial deal on a GT1, being in Kennesaw you won't have to drive through ATL, so there's that haha.

That's funny, I was thinking the Stinger reminds me of my old '10 Z1000.

Oh - thanks for that. I didn't think any dealers were still receiving 2019 shipments. I thought they are just clearing out inventory now to prep for the 2020's. Will check it out...

 

[Jacques]

I like the carbon trim better, honestly.

Though the brush aluminum is nice, would love to have carbon fiber interior trim, and wished they offered that in the US.

 

[SKStinger]

Though the brush aluminum is nice, would love to have carbon fiber interior trim, and wished they offered that in the US.

I like the carbon with the red leather but with the black it is just too dark for me. IMO black leather needs something bright to offset it.