Even just a year ago, the idea of a KIA taking on a proper rear-drive sports coupe from BMW would be laughable. KIA has been making small, affordable economy cars for decades but has never ventured into the world of rear-wheel drive sports cars until just this year. Its very first attempt, the KIA Stinger GT-S, is a car that the brand feels can take on the very best from Europe. While that might seem blasphemous to many enthusiasts, the idea isn’t as far-fetched as one might originally assume. Piston Heads recently put the new Stinger up against the BMW 440i to see how it stacks up to Bavaria’s rear-drive sports car.
Admittedly, the KIA Stinger competes more with the BMW 440i Gran Coupe but BMW lacked one in its UK press fleet, so a 440i Coupe it is. Plus, mechanically, they’re basically the same car so this is a fair dynamic comparison.
Mechanically, these two cars stack up well. Under the hood of the BMW 440i Coupe is a familiar 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine making 320 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. That engine is paired with a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic and powers just its rear wheels, although all-wheel drive is optional. As for the KIA Stinger GT-S, it uses a 3.3 liter twin-turbocharged V6 that makes 370 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, so quite a bit more than the BMW. It also uses an eight-speed ZF ‘box and powers its rear wheels with all-wheel drive as an option. Read more...
Admittedly, the KIA Stinger competes more with the BMW 440i Gran Coupe but BMW lacked one in its UK press fleet, so a 440i Coupe it is. Plus, mechanically, they’re basically the same car so this is a fair dynamic comparison.
Mechanically, these two cars stack up well. Under the hood of the BMW 440i Coupe is a familiar 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine making 320 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. That engine is paired with a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic and powers just its rear wheels, although all-wheel drive is optional. As for the KIA Stinger GT-S, it uses a 3.3 liter twin-turbocharged V6 that makes 370 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, so quite a bit more than the BMW. It also uses an eight-speed ZF ‘box and powers its rear wheels with all-wheel drive as an option. Read more...
