Kia Stinger goes on sale, preorders exceed 2,000

[lostnspace]

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp.'s much-awaited Stinger sports car on Tuesday went on sale in the domestic market, with preorders hitting the 2,000 mark.

The country's second-biggest carmaker by sales has added the sports sedan to its lineup to help enhance its brand image and better compete with rivals in the global markets.

The Stinger comes in three engines -- a 2.0 turbo, a 3.3 twin-turbo, and a 2.2 diesel engine -- all mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The 3.3 turbo with 370 horsepower on tap and 52.0 kilogram-force meters of torque can push the car from naught to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.9 seconds, Kia said in a statement.

Kia's first real sports car starts at 35 million won (US$31,000) in the domestic market and the prices rise to 49 million won depending on features such as the all-wheel-drive function, it said.

The Stinger will carry an independent Stinger badge without the KIA logo domestically. But it will be sold overseas with the KIA logo, which is expected to boost sales, a company spokesman said.

The company has yet to decide on the Stinger's time frame for export.

The Stinger carries seven airbags in all models and a launch control function, an electric aid to assist drivers in accelerating rapidly from a standing start.

Customers can selectively choose safety features such as highway driving assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assist and driver attention warnings.

Kia, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Co., introduced its Audi A4 challenger at motor shows held in Geneva, Detroit and Seoul from January to March.

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2017/05/23/0200000000AEN20170523003300320.html

 

[lostnspace]

The Stinger will carry an independent Stinger badge without the KIA logo domestically. But it will be sold overseas with the KIA logo, which is expected to boost sales, a company spokesman said.

I actually prefer the Σ logo, but that would probably cost a ton in marketing to advertise an all new logo. The KIA logo is definitely a known entity regardless of the opinion of the brand.

 

[app_master]

2000! Wow! Awesome!
That will certainly get the aftermarket arenas primed...exhausts, tunes, gadgets, stick-ons, chrome, wheels, spoilers etc, etc...
The Σ logo knock-offs will be ready for rebadging before it's even sold in other markets, for sure too.

 

[lostnspace]

2000! Wow! Awesome!
That will certainly get the aftermarket arenas primed...exhausts, tunes, gadgets, stick-ons, chrome, wheels, spoilers etc, etc...
The Σ logo knock-offs will be ready for rebadging before it's even sold in other markets, for sure too.

2000 just in the domestic market at that! I think Kia will under sale and over delivery.

Speaking of rebadging...I hope it's easy to switch the back badges.

 

[app_master]

...42.3 percent opted for the 3.3liter twinturbo GDi engine

here; https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/common/printpreview.asp?categoryCode=419&newsIdx=229863

Who'd have thought people were after a performance KIA!
Bean counters at kia will be grinning ear-to-ear even after these new release sales start to wean.

 

[lostnspace]

...42.3 percent opted for the 3.3liter twinturbo GDi engine

here; https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/common/printpreview.asp?categoryCode=419&newsIdx=229863

Who'd have thought people were after a performance KIA!
Bean counters at kia will be grinning ear-to-ear even after these new release sales start to wean.

That's a nice amount of 3.3s!! I hope these numbers show that people do want a performance car and Bimmerman will get his wishes to have a more powerful Stinger in the near future.

 

[CTBumpkin]

I went to a dealer in CT today and they said they'd gotten an email from corporate saying to expect them to arrive in January, (which probably means March).

 

[unintelligible]

I went to a dealer in CT today and they said they'd gotten an email from corporate saying to expect them to arrive in January, (which probably means March).

That would be very disappointing if so... it's on sale domestically now, why would it take 8 more months to get it over here? Sounds fishy.

 

[lostnspace]

I went to a dealer in CT today and they said they'd gotten an email from corporate saying to expect them to arrive in January, (which probably means March).

Welcome to the boards!!

Not to be rude but I hope your dealer contact is wrong. Most articles are saying the car will go on sale in international markets (i.e. the USA) in the second half the year....which is June - the remainder of the year. I am thinking August/October time frame.

 

[app_master]

Trolling? Website still says "later this year".

 

[CTBumpkin]

If the guy was going to lie, one would think he would err on the side of promising them earlier rather than later.