KIA Official Press Release (9.26.17)

[hej]

So the more I read the angrier I get.

I am not sure if "Dynamic Low Beam Headlight Assist" and "Dynamic Bending Headlights" are different names for the same thing? But I will give them a pass until I have further information.

I also don't see anything about Auto Start/Stop (I might disable it all the time but having a blank button near the shifter is going to p**s me off).

Now on to me being triggered again:

• NO heated REAR seats listed on any trim level
• NO 360 surround view camera listed on any trim level (there is a rear view camera with dynamic guideline listed as standard on all trim levels)
• NO wireless cell phone charging pad on any trim level

All offered on the top trim level for 11k less in Canada. If Kia removed ANY of the three items above from the US model for no discernible reason (other than to screw us [or should I say US] out of more money for less content) they can go f**k themselves and I am out on principle.

FWIW, I don't recall ever hearing about heated rear seats for the Stinger, and I am guessing the 360 surround view is lumped in with the upgraded infotainment system. The omission of the wireless cell charging is suspect, but it's possible it's a standard on all models and Kia didn't think the feature was important enough to warrant a line in the spec list.

 

[Chris]

I would say "dynamic low beam" assist means the car automatically toggles the high beams for oncoming traffic, so you can be a considerate driver without all the work of pulling on the high beam lever. And "dynamic bending headlights" would be the headlights with servos for the projector so that it follows the path of your curve when turning.

I assumed it was like the VW headlight assist. The VW one sort of mixes high and low beams and blocks the beam just where oncoming cars are going to be. (Might be wrong though)

 

[Bamm1]

I would say "dynamic low beam" assist means the car automatically toggles the high beams for oncoming traffic, so you can be a considerate driver without all the work of pulling on the high beam lever. And "dynamic bending headlights" would be the headlights with servos for the projector so that it follows the path of your curve when turning.

High Beam Assist (HBA) toggles between high/low beams and it is standard on the GT2.

Dynamic low beam assist is something else entirely.

 

[Bamm1]

FWIW, I don't recall ever hearing about heated rear seats for the Stinger, and I am guessing the 360 surround view is lumped in with the upgraded infotainment system. The omission of the wireless cell charging is suspect, but it's possible it's a standard on all models and Kia didn't think the feature was important enough to warrant a line in the spec list.

Standard features list for the GT Limited in Canada:

• Heads-up display (HUD) system
• Air-cooled front seats
• Premium Nappa leather seats
• Heated rear seats
• 7” LCD/TFT Supervision instrument cluster
• 8” multimedia interface with integrated navigation
• 15-speaker Harman Kardon® 6 premium audio system
• Wireless cell phone charging pad
• Dynamic bending headlights
• 360° camera monitoring system
• Advanced smart cruise control (ASCC)
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Lane keep assist system (LKAS)

Why call out wireless charging, heated rear seats and 360 degree camera as important features for the upgraded limited trim in Canada but then forget to mention them altogether for the US? But you make note that the GT2 trim has a compass in the mirror? Seems like a purposeful omission as opposed to a simple oversite.

 

[Merkur720]

My optima hybrid has heated rear seats and ventilated front seats. The latter a must in Texas. I'm okay losing the rear seat extras. But I agree some of the feature omissions (360 Camera a big one) is a turnoff. After seeing the showroom cars, I was getting excited about a 2.0T in chroma blue with the GT line package (wheels brembos power tailgate etc.)

Bummer. Hoping they are reading and tweaking this over the next few weeks!

 

[hej]

Standard features list for the GT Limited in Canada:

• Heads-up display (HUD) system
• Air-cooled front seats
• Premium Nappa leather seats
• Heated rear seats
• 7” LCD/TFT Supervision instrument cluster
• 8” multimedia interface with integrated navigation
• 15-speaker Harman Kardon® 6 premium audio system
• Wireless cell phone charging pad
• Dynamic bending headlights
• 360° camera monitoring system
• Advanced smart cruise control (ASCC)
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Lane keep assist system (LKAS)

Why call out wireless charging, heated rear seats and 360 degree camera as important features for the upgraded limited trim in Canada but then forget to mention them altogether for the US? But you make note that the GT2 trim has a compass in the mirror? Seems like a purposeful omission as opposed to a simple oversite.

The heated rear seats probably is a Canadian thing only, much like Hyundai offering the Genesis sedan with a V8 and AWD in Canada only (because nobody there is buying a RWD v8). I'm still not ready to write off the wireless charging pad, though you guys may be right. I guess we'll all know when somebody leaks an American market brochure

 

[Taimaishoo]

The heated rear seats probably is a Canadian thing only, much like Hyundai offering the Genesis sedan with a V8 and AWD in Canada only (because nobody there is buying a RWD v8). I'm still not ready to write off the wireless charging pad, though you guys may be right. I guess we'll all know when somebody leaks an American market brochure

I just got to thinking. That wireless charger, although nice, I wouldn't mind if I had it or not. That space looks just big enough for an SSD to be placed and then an adapter going to the USB port for media!

 

[Bamm1]

The heated rear seats probably is a Canadian thing only, much like Hyundai offering the Genesis sedan with a V8 and AWD in Canada only (because nobody there is buying a RWD v8). I'm still not ready to write off the wireless charging pad, though you guys may be right. I guess we'll all know when somebody leaks an American market brochure

"Smart Heated Rear Seat" was an option on the Korean market pre-orders as well. There are no "detailed" specs for the UK, German, etc. models that I was able to find to determine the availability there.

Korea, Canada and the US all have areas (i.e. "cold") where rear heated seats would be an appealing option. Also, that option is available on models (like the BMW 440) Kia is trying to "out content" for their price point.

The photos chosen to accompany the press release are also odd in their omissions. We also have to acknowledge the photos are likely of pre-production models, so the presence or absense of something is not confirmation. But....

• The switch that controls the 360 degree camera is present in the photos (unless, in this case, it performs some other function, like turn on the rear view camera when not in reverse)
• The area under the HVAC controls that opens to reveal the wireless charging pad, USB port, etc. is ALWAYS closed in every photo. In most photos I have seen previously it was open to show the USB ports, etc.
• There are no photos of the inside rear doors (where the heated seat controls are located in models so equipped)

So both the spec spreadsheet and the photos have the same similar options not represented.

 

[Kia Stinger]

I would say "dynamic low beam" assist means the car automatically toggles the high beams for oncoming traffic, so you can be a considerate driver without all the work of pulling on the high beam lever. And "dynamic bending headlights" would be the headlights with servos for the projector so that it follows the path of your curve when turning.

It would be nice if they had an attachment for the brain that you could plug in so people would be considerate and signal instead of doing all that work pushing on the stalk.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Hoping they are reading and tweaking this over the next few weeks!

You can let them know by clicking here.

 

[Taimaishoo]

It looks like Oct 6th is about when we'll hear all about US pricing, options, colors, etc. from the horse's mouth. My guess is once Oct 6th comes, all bets are off and journalists will be able to publish more information and KIA themselves will probably officially launch the Stinger in the US. Maybe? Hopefully? FINGERS CROSSED!

"Kia has put the kibosh on journalists’ driving impressions until Oct. 6"

 

[Bamm1]

I just looked back at Kia's "Stinger Survey" that I had taken (saved some info in a word doc). Here are all the options/features they listed for what at the time was called the GT3 trim level (at least on the survey I was sent):

• 19” Alloy Wheels with performance tires
• Leather Seats
• Heated front seat
• 8-way Power Driver & Passenger Seat
• Driver 4-way lumbar support
• Front and Rear Parking Assist Sensors
• Puddle Lamp
• Brembo disc brakes
• Mechanical Limited Slip Differential
• Electronic Parking Brake
• Metal finish on interior center console and doors
• Metal finish pedal and foot rest
• Metal finish door scuff plate
• Exterior dark chrome treatment to door mirrors, window surrounds and front grille
• Head Up Display
• Rain sensing wipers
• Auto Emergency Braking with Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Advanced Smart Cruise Control
• High beam assist
• Dynamic Bending Headlights
• Shift by electronic wire gear selector
• Electronic and hands free trunk opener
• Power tilt and telescoping wheel
• Front ventilated seats
• Memory driver seat, mirrors, steering wheel
• Driver seat extension
• Driver seat air chambers to adjust lumbar and side bolster support
• Passenger four-way lumbar
• 8” color display (with Navigation) with Android Auto or Apple Carplay
• Harman Kardon audio with 15 speakers
• LED Headlamp
• Sunroof
• 7” LCD Color Instrument Cluster
• Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Electronic Parking Brake
• Garage door opener
• Brembo disc brakes
• Mechanical Limited Slip Differential
• Electronically controlled suspension
• Flat-bottom sport steering wheel with GT emblem
• Outside Auto Dimming Mirror

Package 1
AWD + Heated Steering Wheel

Notice anything missing?!?!?!

Ah yes:

• 360 degree camera
• Wireless charging pad
• Heated rear seats

It seems to align almost perfectly with the "Features & Options" spreadsheet. D*mn it!

 

[eljay]

I'm so confused! I was hoping for 360º cam.

 

[BahamaTodd]

I assumed it was like the VW headlight assist. The VW one sort of mixes high and low beams and blocks the beam just where oncoming cars are going to be. (Might be wrong though)
View attachment 482

Headlight systems like those are not legal in the US. The regulation requires that there are two distinct low and high beams, so a constantly varying light source is not allowed. The most that is allowed is automatic switching between low and high beam.

 

[Taimaishoo]

Notice anything missing?!?!?!

Ah yes:

• 360 degree camera
• Wireless charging pad
• Heated rear seats

It seems to align almost perfectly with the "Features & Options" spreadsheet. D*mn it!

Yeah but one thing I've noticed, even here down south, heated seats are available in just about every vehicle. I think this will be an option. Even though it doesn't freeze much down here, 37 degrees on the old pair of butt cheeks is still pretty damn cold! EDIT: Oh! Selective vision. I just saw the 'rear' in Heated rear seats. Well, I plan to never be a passenger sitting in the back seat.

I'm really hoping the 360 camera will be available. Hmmm. Wonder if it records like the last 30 seconds in case of accident? That would be a neat option. Records 360 degrees and over writes the lat 30 seconds in a loop and will stop recording upon sensing an impact. So, CRASH! or even a DING and the last 30 seconds are saved. See? I told you it was the damn shopping cart!

Wireless charging pad. While at this time, I don't have a need for that since my work provides my phone (why pay for phone and plan when work provides one?) and it will be a looooong while before they upgrade my phone to something capable of wireless charging. LOL

They sure do like mentioning the parking break, eh? hehe

What the heck is Driver seat extension? LOL! I just imagined those extension leaves you put in dinner tables (Get off my lawn you damned young whipper snappers!) that you would put in the drivers seat....

 

[hereward]

It looks like Oct 6th is about when we'll hear all about US pricing, options, colors, etc. from the horse's mouth. My guess is once Oct 6th comes, all bets are off and journalists will be able to publish more information and KIA themselves will probably officially launch the Stinger in the US. Maybe? Hopefully? FINGERS CROSSED!

"Kia has put the kibosh on journalists’ driving impressions until Oct. 6"

Having looked at a Stinger a couple of days ago, I concur with Ulrich's comments on the Stinger interior. It is not a credible match to a BMW 430i both in terms of design originality, and even material quality. I just did not get a feeling of quality ambiance when I sat in the car, and Ulrich's more learned observation bears with me. The switches did not feel weighty and that makes me wonder about their long term durability.

 

[app_master]

I'm with you... if they're making features completely unavailable for the US market and are actually pricing the top tier model higher than the initially floated "under 50k" pricing, this is a bad look. I was willing to deal with the Kia sales and service experience because there was so much content for such an attractive price. This is starting to close the gap between the Stinger and cars like the S5 Sportback.

And the bizarre and arbitrary move to make rain-sensing wipers an AWD only option bothers me too. I understood the heated steering wheel only on AWD thing for the Genesis models - if you need that it's probably so cold where you live that you're probably getting AWD anyway - but this? I live in Florida, it rains like clockwork here, but it never snows, so AWD is useless to me. I want the better system, my BMWs have had it in the past and it works great.

Agreed.
They did the same thing with Australian prices, and it has officially "floated" well above the initial spruik.
Least you get AWD options, and I agree that some of the exclusions seem "odd". Yes rain sense has worked on all my previous and current cars well too.
The US is set to be a very tough market for the Stinger, with rival cars being so much closer in price gap for you guys.
Unfortunately I see Kia Stingers sitting on lots in less than 6 months after release, if this is the case... and this might be a sad fact of poor market realisation by Kia worldwide, even if the product is "that good", as they still may be 2-5 years away from the brand recognition to allow this upward pricing.

 

[Kia Deals]

I have driven this car over the last few days and Im very pleased with the feel that I got. It feels exactly like what i was told it would be. Sporty yet family friendly. Great power delivery right up to 160kmh.
Interior certainly isnt cheap and not much to pick on really. Engine note is an issue with the Aussie public.

 

[Ediamiam]

Agreed. The US will be a tough market. I'm interested but not sold. If the 2.0T vehicle is decontented significantly, I would be looking elsewhere. The potential depreciation because it is a KIA is damaging.

Unfortunately I see Kia Stingers sitting on lots in less than 6 months after release, if this is the case... and this might be a sad fact of poor market realisation by Kia worldwide, even if the product is "that good",

 

[Taimaishoo]

Agreed. The US will be a tough market. I'm interested but not sold. If the 2.0T vehicle is decontented significantly, I would be looking elsewhere. The potential depreciation because it is a KIA is damaging.

Well, I'm sure they're making a limited, initial run and probably gauging the waters, so to speak. I just need to sit in one and test drive it for my final decision.