Kia Stinger facelift confirmed, next generation still up in the air

[MerlintheMad]

I've mentioned this before: the original concept for the Stinger was to create a retro Gran Turismo feel a la the 60s and 70s Italian GT cars. The use of nice analog gauges was a deliberate inclusion to make the interior retro; but not go overboard with it, thus all the added LCD screen tech. "The Gran Turismo. Redefined" is how the promo book says it. I was first attracted to the Stinger precisely because it does capture that 60s and 70s retro look and feel.

 

[westcoastGT]

I've mentioned this before: the original concept for the Stinger was to create a retro Gran Turismo feel a la the 60s and 70s Italian GT cars. The use of nice analog gauges was a deliberate inclusion to make the interior retro; but not go overboard with it, thus all the added LCD screen tech. "The Gran Turismo. Redefined" is how the promo book says it. I was first attracted to the Stinger precisely because it does capture that 60s and 70s retro look and feel.

Merlin , here's the matching wardrobe for the car concept .........................bawaaaaaaaa

 

[7Andrei7]

I'm torn between having a big versatile digital dash vs losing the analog gauges. Digital gauges are too video gamey.

I love the current layout of the gauges (except for the water temp indicator not being centred). The only thing I will be envious of will be the larger screen where they might be able to show a proper map + current song & album cover. The current split-screen is too crammed because the screen is not wide enough.

 

[RVance]

lol Mr. Guillaume please join me for one single trip to the gas station

the stinger should come with a disclaimer: warning, pumping gas will become a social affair

The stinger does serious work for KIA as a halo car. How many people went out and bought a forte, optima or telluride because of the stinger. For me, most peoples reactions aren’t “wow, I want a stinger” it’s “wow, KIA is legit”. I think KIA would be making a mistake to discontinue the stinger soon

You nailed it. A fellow long time friend and retiree took a drive with me in my 2018 Stinger and was baffled by the solidity, performance, looks, and quality interior- he hadn't associated any of these elementswith the Kia brand before. He told me he was in the market for a Dodge Pacifica or a Ford Explorer to haul stuff and his grand kids around. A week later a bell rang (it takes me a while) and I suggested he check out the Telluride. He said he already had and loved it. He ordered one immediately.

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

First spy-shots.

It's a shame we can't see the switches between the drive mode selector and center console compartment. I hope they don't change the seat heat/ventilation switches at all because it's a very unique design and one of the things that makes that interior interesting to me.

 

[I Stung U]

with most car reviewers giving it such great praise, except for few badge snobs.. but even those give away how cool this is for the price, there should be fast growing demand for this car... lets see... 2019 numbers in Canada is a wee bit less than 2018.
I would hope and assume 2020 will have more as people learn about it.

 

[Jayphil]

Interresting new interview with KIA about the current gen refresh and second gen Stinger. They are "confirming" that the refreshed Stinger will get performance increase but of course still not if this will be achieve by tuning the current engine or upgrading to the new 2.5T / 3.5T.

Kia Stinger Second Gen Still Not Decided - Korean Car Blog

 

[BlueByYouGT]

I love when blogs omit any identifiable information about their cited source.

 

[JMP]

Interresting new interview with KIA about the current gen refresh and second gen Stinger. They are "confirming" that the refreshed Stinger will get performance increase but of course still not if this will be achieve by tuning the current engine or upgrading to the new 2.5T / 3.5T.

Kia Stinger Second Gen Still Not Decided - Korean Car Blog

Interesting. Still plenty of life in this car. So many media outlets talking second gen when this one is only in its 3rd model year. Honestly, tired of reading that. Best a second gen would still be 4 years out, especially considering COVID has delayed everything for everyone. With that said, this current platform has so much to give. Keep tweeking it, keeping it relevant and fresh. Kia's image is changing, the Stinger (and Telluride) are making people take notice.

 

[143GovernaleBobo]

Interesting. Still plenty of life in this car. So many media outlets talking second gen when this one is only in its 4th model year.

South Korea's Stingers were released a year before the rest of the world, fwiw.

 

[JMP]

I can't help but think how long the F.C.A twins, Charger and 300 have been around....still waiting on the next generation.

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

Keep tweeking it, keeping it relevant and fresh. Kia's image is changing, the Stinger (and Telluride) are making people take notice.

The Stinger WOULD make people take notice if they moved more of them.
They would be moving more of them if they listened to complaints and give us the goodies Aussies and Canadians get in their Stingers.

 

[JMP]

The Stinger WOULD make people take notice if they moved more of them.
They would be moving more of them if they listened to complaints and give us the goodies Aussies and Canadians get in their Stingers.

US pricing is too high. We pay peanuts in Canada compared to you guys. With exchange, I paid equivalent to $38,500 USD for a full loaded GT2 AWD

 

[Edwardb1]

Oh they did come up with some of their own, and it was awful.

Hey, have a heart-- those were some fun commercials! I have a 2018 Soul Exclaim turbo in the garage too! Great car-- dare I say the ultimate urban runabout?

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

US pricing is too high. We pay peanuts in Canada compared to you guys. With exchange, I paid equivalent to $38,500 USD for a full loaded GT2 AWD

What other car delivers as many features in the car, that much power (and very tunable, at that), AND the level of interior materials? At that price level with almost all other brands you can pick one or the other but you can't get even two of the three, let alone all three. At its price point, the only car that matches it in the US market is its sibling the G70... but I like the hatchback and the ambient lighting, so I'll go with the slightly heavier Stinger over the G70 (Besides, there is no Genesis dealer in Maine at this time). I'm just waiting for Kia to get their act together and offer UVO Link in the GT2 (plus preferably a rear LSD, although I can swap that out with a bit of cussing out Kia during the process as I get all greasy and bruised).

 

[P22Tyler]

The Stinger WOULD make people take notice if they moved more of them.
They would be moving more of them if they listened to complaints and give us the goodies Aussies and Canadians get in their Stingers.

Or if they actually bothered to market it.

 

[JMP]

What other car delivers as many features in the car, that much power (and very tunable, at that), AND the level of interior materials? At that price level with almost all other brands you can pick one or the other but you can't get even two of the three, let alone all three. At its price point, the only car that matches it in the US market is its sibling the G70... but I like the hatchback and the ambient lighting, so I'll go with the slightly heavier Stinger over the G70 (Besides, there is no Genesis dealer in Maine at this time). I'm just waiting for Kia to get their act together and offer UVO Link in the GT2 (plus preferably a rear LSD (Limited Slip Differential), although I can swap that out with a bit of cussing out Kia during the process as I get all greasy and bruised).

My 2020, AWD GT2 has LSD

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

Yeah... and our Aussie friends get the bimodal exhaust. Hopefully 2021 will give everyone in all markets all the goodies.

 

[YEH]

Assuming the Stinger get the upgrade to the 3.5TT (in addition to the 2.5T) at least for LHD markets, along w/ improvement to the interior/tech - Kia, at the very least, can postpone the decision by extending the current life-cycle.

So instead of a quick 5-6 year life-cycle for most Kia models, extending it to 7-9 years.

The Stinger had global sales of 27,641 in 2018 and 23,308 in 2019.

Kia likely wants to see Stinger sales in the 30-35k range, which wouldn't happen unless T4 sales improve drastically, and sales improve in the US, Korea and Europe.

The Korean market isn't keen on liftbacks and the even w/ the new 2.5T and 3.5TT engines (and the updated 2.2L diesel; the Stinger should really get the 3.0 I6 diesel), the upcoming tougher emission standard for Europe is going to make things tougher.

For Europe, the Stinger would need hybrid and electric variants - which wouldn't be available until the next gen model (underpinned by HMG's new RWD platform).

So that leaves the US market in having the carry the load of increasing sales.

Outside of Europe, the Stinger outsells the Arteon by a good margin, but VW makes up for w/ European sales (helped by an efficient/low tax 1.5T engine - which isn't exactly a performance engine) and pulls ahead w/ China sales (the Arteon is also manufactured in China, so no tariff hit).

US pricing is too high. We pay peanuts in Canada compared to you guys. With exchange, I paid equivalent to $38,500 USD for a full loaded GT2 AWD

While agree that the pricing was a bit on the high side (esp. w/ certain features deleted), what has been selling in the States (like pretty much everywhere else w/o prohibitive emissions taxes) has been the higher-priced TTV6 Stingers.

Yeah... and our Aussie friends get the bimodal exhaust. Hopefully 2021 will give everyone in all markets all the goodies.

Which they have to pay extra.

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

Which they have to pay extra.

So? It's not even offered as an option here, and we can't get the LSD with AWD nor UVO Link at any price here in America.. and I'd be willing to pay extra for all three of those.