New Kia Performance Sub Brand coming ?...................

[westcoastGT]

Introduced, somewhat unexpectedly, last year, the Stinger showed the world a new side of Kia. It’s a sporty, vibrant facet many doubted the company had. It’s not just a one-off, though; the South Korean firm will keep the momentum going by sending every member of its lineup to the gym. Decision-makers haven’t ruled out launching a full-blown performance sub-brand, either.

“We’re still trying to figure that out. We haven’t quite sorted it out. We’re exploring what that would look like,” Orth Hedrick, Kia Motors America’s vice president of product planning, told Digital Trends at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show.

If it receives the proverbial green light, the sub-brand would exist under the same umbrella as Kia. It would prepare sportier variants of more mainstream Kia cars, much like how Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Benz operate. The Stinger would be the brand’s obvious first choice, it’s already a performance car, but a hot-rodded Sportage would make sense, too. It would fight head-to-head against the Ford Edge ST. It’s too early to talk about stand-alone models, though. Read more: Kia could follow up the Stinger with a stand-alone performance sub-brand

Can you say debadge , rebadge ..........................again !

 

[Waynerm002]

Here is what I found interesting in that article: "We have a performance line in each of our vehicles; we call it SX but we’re going to change it over." Their idea of sport needs some improvement, the SX had the more powerful engine but was not truly sporty. With Camry and Accord stepping up with body kits and bigger wheels and sportier suspension, KIA needs to take it a step up since they now have Albert Biermann. They should tune the engine for better response and performance as well as tune the transmission for faster shifting. In addition, tighten up the chassis and suspension and make that thing handle better.

 

[westcoastGT]

Here is what I found interesting in that article: "We have a performance line in each of our vehicles; we call it SX but we’re going to change it over." Their idea of sport needs some improvement, the SX had the more powerful engine but was not truly sporty. With Camry and Accord stepping up with body kits and bigger wheels and sportier suspension, KIA needs to take it a step up since they now have Albert Biermann. They should tune the engine for better response and performance as well as tune the transmission for faster shifting. In addition, tighten up the chassis and suspension and make that thing handle better.

I agree . the article wasnt very well written , but my sense is they intend to add a "GT" type version to some of their key vehicles and that would have to include performance and driving dynamics as well as body and interior enhancements ...............How they execute the new brand will be very interesting.................

 

[Waynerm002]

Take a look at this photo from the Korean website, use Chrome's translate feature on the site:



Here is the link to the Korean Optima site: 기아 K5 특징 - 승차감 좋은 대한민국 대표 중형차 | 기아자동차 공식 사이트
Notice how deeply bolstered those seats are in comparison to the brown interior below it:

Stinger site: 기아 스팅어 특징 - 프리미엄 퍼포먼스 세단 | 기아자동차 공식 사이트

On the Stinger site you'll notice the have the Stinger 2.0T Dream Edition which has Brembos, LSD and full GT trim but without the wheels. However, the version they had at my dealer had the 19" GT wheels on a 2.0T with the "E" badge. We typically trail them by a a few months to a year, so if they are getting that, it's likely we might as well.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Interesting. I'll bet we see something for the next generation of the Kia portfolio...

 

[westcoastGT]

Interesting. I'll bet we see something for the next generation of the Kia portfolio...

I wonder what % of Stinger buyers are rebadging to E ................ they didnt say exactly new tier , but they must be considering it . I hope its smarter than the Hyundai N

 

[MarkyMark]

Introduced, somewhat unexpectedly, last year, the Stinger showed the world a new side of Kia. It’s a sporty, vibrant facet many doubted the company had. It’s not just a one-off, though; the South Korean firm will keep the momentum going by sending every member of its lineup to the gym. Decision-makers haven’t ruled out launching a full-blown performance sub-brand, either.

“We’re still trying to figure that out. We haven’t quite sorted it out. We’re exploring what that would look like,” Orth Hedrick, Kia Motors America’s vice president of product planning, told Digital Trends at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show.

If it receives the proverbial green light, the sub-brand would exist under the same umbrella as Kia. It would prepare sportier variants of more mainstream Kia cars, much like how Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Benz operate. The Stinger would be the brand’s obvious first choice, it’s already a performance car, but a hot-rodded Sportage would make sense, too. It would fight head-to-head against the Ford Edge ST. It’s too early to talk about stand-alone models, though. Read more: Kia could follow up the Stinger with a stand-alone performance sub-brand

Can you say debadge , rebadge ..........................again !

I would question this type of a move... It's taking Chevy's and calling them Buick's, or Ford's and for the most part, calling them Lincolns with slightly better materials and different sheet metal. This is all, IMHO, lipstick on a pig for too much money. It's near impossible to take a standard sedan and performance tune it into something enthusiasts want... BMW has the M series and Audi the S and Mercedes the AMG. I get that, but the vehicles they start with are not Chevy Malibu's, they are high performance luxury vehicles they get to start with.

Kia would be better served taking the Stinger, and with it's next revamp making a coupe variant. Kai could expand from there, and make an "S" division. That is, a "Stinger" division of Kia, but those cars are NOT re-skinned Kia vehicles. Rather, they are engineering efforts specifically coming out of the Genesis and Kia S group that are designed and sold under their respective badges only. Basically, Genesis and the Kia "S" products are their own platforms, separate from Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Stinger is going to be a massive hit because it did not develop from a warmed over Optima. Rather, the Stinger was a group-up effort with the Genesis group, and it didn't ever lose focus. They've caught lightening in a bottle! Rinse and repeat Kia, rinse and repeat!

 

[STNGRNV]

On the Stinger site you'll notice the have the Stinger 2.0T Dream Edition which has Brembos, LSD and full GT trim but without the wheels. However, the version they had at my dealer had the 10" GT wheels on a 2.0T with the "E" badge. We typically trail them by a a few months to a year, so if they are getting that, it's likely we might as well.

This would be my car. Make it happen Kia.

 

[Euljiro1ga]

Take a look at this photo from the Korean website, use Chrome's translate feature on the site:

View attachment 2459

Here is the link to the Korean Optima site: 기아 K5 특징 - 승차감 좋은 대한민국 대표 중형차 | 기아자동차 공식 사이트
Notice how deeply bolstered those seats are in comparison to the brown interior below it:
View attachment 2461
Stinger site: 기아 스팅어 특징 - 프리미엄 퍼포먼스 세단 | 기아자동차 공식 사이트
View attachment 2460
On the Stinger site you'll notice the have the Stinger 2.0T Dream Edition which has Brembos, LSD and full GT trim but without the wheels. However, the version they had at my dealer had the 19" GT wheels on a 2.0T with the "E" badge. We typically trail them by a a few months to a year, so if they are getting that, it's likely we might as well.

The Dream edition came out a few months after the initial launch. It has all the options available as top of the line 3.3TT ones. the only difference is the engine size. But then again, optioning the Stinger in Korea is quite different than other places. It has more customizability - for example, you could get HUD at every trim level, it's an 1,000,000 KRW optional extra (~1,000 USD).

 

[Waynerm002]

Yep, I typically check the Korea site to find out about the cars they launch there and watch the video of the press events. That car in my member photo is a Korean version with every option discussed installed and it is a 2.0T. I really feel they should have launched it wit a more powerful 2.0T.

 

[Kia Stinger]

I would question this type of a move... It's taking Chevy's and calling them Buick's, or Ford's and for the most part, calling them Lincolns with slightly better materials and different sheet metal. This is all, IMHO, lipstick on a pig for too much money. It's near impossible to take a standard sedan and performance tune it into something enthusiasts want... BMW has the M series and Audi the S and Mercedes the AMG. I get that, but the vehicles they start with are not Chevy Malibu's, they are high performance luxury vehicles they get to start with.

Kia would be better served taking the Stinger, and with it's next revamp making a coupe variant. Kai could expand from there, and make an "S" division. That is, a "Stinger" division of Kia, but those cars are NOT re-skinned Kia vehicles. Rather, they are engineering efforts specifically coming out of the Genesis and Kia S group that are designed and sold under their respective badges only. Basically, Genesis and the Kia "S" products are their own platforms, separate from Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Stinger is going to be a massive hit because it did not develop from a warmed over Optima. Rather, the Stinger was a group-up effort with the Genesis group, and it didn't ever lose focus. They've caught lightening in a bottle! Rinse and repeat Kia, rinse and repeat!

When done right, it can sometimes be very successful. Look at the Chevy Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade. And Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. But it needs to be done right... Me, I agree with you for the most part. I think the next Optima should be based on the Stinger's platform and made into a rear wheel drive family sedan. It wouldn't get the twin turbo V6 but it would get the same 2.0T as the Stinger.

 

[Euljiro1ga]

I think the next Optima should be based on the Stinger's platform and made into a rear wheel drive family sedan. It wouldn't get the twin turbo V6 but it would get the same 2.0T as the Stinger.

I would somehow want to disagree with you here, the idea of having the Optima being a rear wheel drive and even sharing the same engine as the Stinger just hurts. I think the Optima is good as it is - if Kia can incrementally improve the Optima as they have been doing, I think it will continue to do well. Maybe a mid-life refresh or something. I still think front-wheel drive cars are still relevant to the mainstream market.

Having said that, if Kia can somehow can come up with a rear-wheel drive affordable (more affordable than the Stinger) sedan, I would welcome that. But it shouldn't cannibalize the base Stinger. Something along the line of BMW 1s and 2s. So something like a Hyundai i30 but RWD would be lovely.

 

[Waynerm002]

The problem with that is the majority of purchaser in areas that get snow would avoid it as they will think it won’t drive well in snow and get stuck. Add AWD to it and better economy and folks here would flock to it. Subaru has been making a killing in this area due to the past few years of bad winters. I think if KIA bring over the Optima wagon in an all road/cross country/Xtrail or whatever name they are calling these hacked up wagons with body cladding, they would sell. While folks hate wagons, some will buy them for the ground clearance and AWD

 

[westcoastGT]

The story is related to a new PERFORMANCE Sub Brand . Think BMW M , Audi S , MERC AMG , etc

 

[Euljiro1ga]

The story is related to a new PERFORMANCE Sub Brand . Think BMW M , Audi S , MERC AMG , etc

Then we have it already, Hyundai's "N" and Kia's "E"?

 

[westcoastGT]

Then we have it already, Hyundai's "N" and Kia's "E"?

I think the Hyundai N is the equivalent , but from what I know about E it isnt about performance ................

 

[oxide365]

I think they will brand it GT

 

[westcoastGT]

I think they will brand it GT

Maybe , but I think they have overused GT across the line up already and until the Stinger it hasnt been overly meaningful from a performance POV , mostly lipstick .....................I'm expecting something more legitimate