Rufus
1000 Posts Club!
The Mustang as it first appeared is, in my opinion, the ancestor to the Stinger in many ways. Slightly derivative of European influences of the time, yet distinctly its own persona. A sporty car available at several price points, with performance from mild to wild, yet with all trim levels sharing the same basic appearance.
It seized upon a hungry market and filled a niche no one in the industry seemed to know was even there, suddenly upending the established auto hierarchy. Its fresh, youthful appeal became the poster child of fanboys, enthusiasts, and casual drivers alike, and managed to spark a genuinely emotional response from its owners.
It became an instant "it" commodity, angering those who thought their Caddy or Bonneville was far more deserving of attention than this upstart, especially since it could be had for far less coin at the entry level. It wasn't a dedicated sports car, yet could still be had with impressive performance (for the time) and became the platform for genuine high-performance from hot rodders of all stripes looking to eke out road chops to match its looks. It could be personalized both from the factory as well as the aftermarket to reflect the personality of the owner, or left stock and still catch longing looks from passersby.
Finally, the car was so impactful it's very existence coined a genre that previous vehicles may have shared in terms of certain characteristics, yet never combined in such a way as to make the impression the Mustang did. Many cars before it may have bested various objective criteria over the Mustang yet none can be said to have created its own category--the "ponycar."
I don't believe the Stinger will match the sales numbers of that first generation--there are far more choices available for the modern car buyer. But I DO believe the Stinger has evoked an organic response all automakers crave: sales based on passion. It has certainly taken the auto world by surprise in a most positive way, and pissed off folks who look down upon anything not belonging to their particular automotive "tribe." It has done this by virtue of being really, really good out of the box and offering a level of engagement usually reserved for those with access to cars costing far more.
It has re-romanticized and democratized the idea that a car can be practical and sexy and fun to drive. All it needs now is a well crafted, cohesive marketing campaign to tip it into the level of runaway hit. But we who tread these boards already know that, right? We're stung, and proudly so. With that, saddle up fellow fans of this sexy new beast! Let's sting a few "bluebloods" and flutter a few hearts with the first Eurasian Gran Turismo--the KIA STINGER!
