Stinger Production to end in Q2 2022

[Aloneinthefog1]

Why is everyone automatically believing this? It's a poorly written clickbait piece. Unless Kia Corp announces it, I won't bother trying to decide if there is anything to the rumor, which is all this is, like the other (how many?) times over the last most of three years.

As I said before I won't believe it until it actually happens!

 

[OneIota]

I wouldn't hold my breath for Kia to say they're discontinuing the Stinger, more likely they'd just not offer a 2023 model. It does seem unlikely considering the recent refresh. However, this article states only increased YTD sales of 147 for the year (and that's in spite of pandemic drop), so maybe the 2022 model sales haven't been great so far?

Kia Stinger Is Dead After Spring 2022: Report

A report claims that Kia is ending production of its flagship performance car Stinger in July 2022 due to sluggish sales.

www.motor1.com

Actual sales numbers seem to suggest better sales this year overall though:

Kia Stinger Sales Figures

Automotive Sales Data and Statistics

www.goodcarbadcar.net

 

[OneIota]

Oh geez, laziness update: I actually took the 1 minute to use a calculator with the numbers from the 2nd link, I guess the YTD difference is only +147 in the US.

Also just digging around the sales numbers, for comparison's sake (only considering absolute body type competitor, not the brand, etc), the Audi A5 has sold almost 170% of the Stinger's numbers in the US... can't find a separate 4 Gran Coupe number...
But at least Stinger is beating the Panamera by 278%?

 

[Kamauxx]

Actual sales numbers seem to suggest better sales this year overall though:

Kia Stinger Sales Figures

Automotive Sales Data and Statistics

www.goodcarbadcar.net

Not really. They've increased sales for 3 months and went lower the other 3 months.

Sales increased in March-May with the release of the refresh. Imagine what those numbers would look like if Kia didn't offer a facelifted Stinger.

This has probably been their plan all along--to dump it of the refresh doesn't offer substantial/reliable sales increases.

But I want to know what is KIA flagship model going to be then? A whole new car or the Telluride?

Isn't it already the Telluride, though? Or maybe a split between the Telluride and K5? Or the EV6? With the exception of the refresh Kia has largely ignored the Stinger over the last few years.

 

[YEH]

Always thought the prospects of a 2G ICE Stinger were pretty non-existent, but going to be a bit skeptical about production ending in Q2.

Kia didn't go thru all the trouble of sticking in the 2.5T just to end production a year later.

However, the caveat is whether Kia decided to accelerate its movement towards being a BEV manufacturer (which I think is a mistake).

If that is the case, hope Kia will continue the ethos of the Stinger in an upcoming EV (the EV6 is a decent enough design, but not anywhere Stinger nice).

 

[BTA]

I not sure why owners of this great car would sad or mad if KIA stopped production. You have your car and with less produced the rare factor helps keep the car cool and more desirable. Not to mention resale.
Why would have to see one on every corner like Ford Taurus.
I dont get it.
Help me understand folks saying
Nooooo.

 

[Aloneinthefog1]

I not sure why owners of this great car would sad or mad if KIA stopped production. You have your car and with less produced the rare factor helps keep the car cool and more desirable. Not to mention resale.
Why would have to see one on every corner like Ford Taurus.
I dont get it.
Help me understand folks saying
Nooooo.

As for myself it really doesn't matter because the car I have is a limited edition car of only 800 it'll be rare anyway and all I said was I wouldn't believe the scuttlebutt about KIA ending production of the car until they actually do it because I find it hard to believe they would after all the time and $$$ spent developing and testing it

 

[eljay]

Why is everyone automatically believing this? It's a poorly written clickbait piece. Unless Kia Corp announces it, I won't bother trying to decide if there is anything to the rumor, which is all this is, like the other (how many?) times over the last most of three years.

The poorly written aspect is because he's in Spain and not a native English speaker, so I won't discount it on that basis.

But check out the writer's Linked In: https://es.linkedin.com/in/jalopez87 He did work for Kia Motors Iberia for a short while several years ago, so could conceivable still have access to insiders, but his jobs since 2016 don't seem to bode well for his being a professional automotive "journalist," but rather a blogger who depends on other jobs for his income (and depending on an unnamed source, to boot). Not exactly the person you'd expect to be the first out with a story like this, but then, I guess stranger things have happened.

I'll believe it when either Kia makes the announcement or I see it in the newsletters I get from Car & Driver or Motor Trend. Panties not in a twist yet; I happily drove my last car for 9 years after it went out of production.

 

[davebo]

As for myself it really doesn't matter because the car I have is a limited edition car of only 800 it'll be rare anyway and all I said was I wouldn't believe the scuttlebutt about KIA ending production of the car until they actually do it because I find it hard to believe they would after all the time and $$$ spent developing and testing it

Hell mine's only one of 400 and who knows how many of those got replaced when people didn't like the re-paint job their local bodyshops had to do after the paint recall, but I couldn't care less how rare my car is. I just like the car itself and I'm glad I have one. I'm especially glad when I get to see another one in a nice color, or any car in a nice color, since 75% of new cars sold in USA are white/black/silver. I'd have loved to have seen more Stingers in more colors over the years, but it is what it is. I guess the "Seen any Stingers in the Wild" thread is gonna get pretty redundant eventually.

 

[hummus]

I not sure why owners of this great car would sad or mad if KIA stopped production. You have your car and with less produced the rare factor helps keep the car cool and more desirable. Not to mention resale.
Why would have to see one on every corner like Ford Taurus.
I dont get it.
Help me understand folks saying
Nooooo.

My $.02: I'm not too distraught about the Stinger possibly ceasing production, though I prefer if it continues on in some form. From a practical standpoint, it's about parts availability. If memory serves, a manufacturer is only required to continue producing parts for a vehicle for seven years after it is discontinued. If the G70 continues to use the 3.3T, that would bode well for the oily bits, but the concern might become availability of body parts, interior, etc. This could be quite an issue, since as someone else mentioned, low-slung sporty vehicles driven by internal combustion are going to become harder and harder to come by--so some of us are hoping to hang on to the Stinger for a long time.

From an emotional standpoint, I just love what the Stinger stands for. Pick your trope: the gorgeous red head that emerges from the chess club meeting. The gauntlet slamming down on the big boy table that no one saw coming or believed could be a threat. The guy at a jam session casually making jaws drop while shredding on an off-brand instrument and not giving a damn about it.

 

[2019parsting]

If they are in such poor demand, why do we have to wait over six months to get one, why are dealers charging a premium on them and why are used prices skyrocketing. Has any one thought that this is a marketing ploy?

I was thinking the same thing. I bought out my lease but before I made the decision, I was going to upgrade to a GT1 awd. I couldn't find a new one anywhere and waiting 6 months was out the question so this seems strange to me.

 

[eljay]

I was thinking the same thing. I bought out my lease but before I made the decision, I was going to upgrade to a GT1 awd. I couldn't find a new one anywhere and waiting 6 months was out the question so this seems strange to me.

Was this recently that you were looking? The shortage (and higher prices) may be a result of the semiconductor chip shortage that's affected most of the auto makers, including Kia. Good explanation in this article: Everything you need to know about the chip shortage that's plaguing automakers

I saw this elsewhere: "A variety of analysts agree that the most problematic shortages will begin to ease in the third or fourth quarter of 2021, though it could take much of 2022 for the resulting chips to work their way through the supply chain to products."

After the market readjusts, things should go back to normal, just like the cycle with TP supplies—but without the added problem of hoarding.

 

[Hilleagle]

I suppose the disappointment for me if production ceases in '22, would be my plan to buy one of the last GTS models (only one on sale now in UK) as a keeper, because ICE vehicles will cease to be soon. I will have to persuade the Finance Director (wife!) that I need to upgrade early!

Although less desirable than most, my diesel model is rather rare, but looks stunning and still makes me smile whenever I see it or drive it!

Whenever it stops, we need to thank Kia for making the Stinger. Its such a great car, and looks amazing!

 

[Ric 'Ochet]

My $.02: I'm not too distraught about the Stinger possibly ceasing production, though I prefer if it continues on in some form. From a practical standpoint, it's about parts availability. If memory serves, a manufacturer is only required to continue producing parts for a vehicle for seven years after it is discontinued. If the G70 continues to use the 3.3T, that would bode well for the oily bits, but the concern might become availability of body parts, interior, etc. This could be quite an issue, since as someone else mentioned, low-slung sporty vehicles driven by internal combustion are going to become harder and harder to come by--so some of us are hoping to hang on to the Stinger for a long time.

From an emotional standpoint, I just love what the Stinger stands for. Pick your trope: the gorgeous red head that emerges from the chess club meeting. The gauntlet slamming down on the big boy table that no one saw coming or believed could be a threat. The guy at a jam session casually making jaws drop while shredding on an off-brand instrument and not giving a damn about it.

This is more my concern. The availability of parts postmortem. That said, like most rational people, I choose to reserve my opinion until after I hear a credible source say the Stinger is dead. Until then I’ll just keep driving mine, then maybe consider other options if they discontinue.

 

[Kamauxx]

I was thinking the same thing. I bought out my lease but before I made the decision, I was going to upgrade to a GT1 awd. I couldn't find a new one anywhere and waiting 6 months was out the question so this seems strange to me.

The car world is currently full of tumult. I just saw a used 2019 RS3 for sale for $75k! The car's MSRP is like $60k NEW. Availability is shit. Prices are shit.

 

[Aloneinthefog1]

I suppose the disappointment for me if production ceases in '22, would be my plan to buy one of the last GTS models (only one on sale now in UK) as a keeper, because ICE vehicles will cease to be soon. I will have to persuade the Finance Director (wife!) that I need to upgrade early!

Although less desirable than most, my diesel model is rather rare, but looks stunning and still makes me smile whenever I see it or drive it!

Whenever it stops, we need to thank Kia for making the Stinger. Its such a great car, and looks amazing!

Believe it or not I envy you, I'd love to have a diesel stinger but they aren't offered in the states to my knowledge, from my perspective that would be the perfect highway car, but that's just my opinion

 

[atomiccow]

I wouldn't mind this being the last ICE car I have. One more reason to keep it forever .

My only hope is that the Stinger survives spiritually. I hope Kia produces a fastback sedan EV with proportion and design that trumps all other requirements. The Stinger is a very good compromise between design and practicality. It has legit RWD proportions while maintaining internal packaging efficiency equal or better than some mid-size sedans. Of course different compromises could have made it bigger inside, but then it would be like an Arteon or TLX, which have convincing form but lack bona-fide proportion.

I hope Kia will continue working on these principles. EVs open up a lot of new possibilities for internal packaging, but I believe that ultimately beautiful external form and proportion are more important. After all there will be countless EVs to fulfill the practicality market.

 

[Hilleagle]

Believe it or not I envy you, I'd love to have a diesel stinger but they aren't offered in the states to my knowledge, from my perspective that would be the perfect highway car, but that's just my opinion

It is a great long distance cruiser. The diesel sips fuel returning close to 50 mpg (imperial) and has good torque for a 4 pot (321 lbs ft). Same 8 speed automatic transmission as the rest and in UK RWD only with LSD!

I am delighted and although I have driven all sorts, nothing turns heads like a Stinger!

 

[GPhenom]

I wouldn't mind this being the last ICE car I have. One more reason to keep it forever .

My only hope is that the Stinger survives spiritually. I hope Kia produces a fastback sedan EV with proportion and design that trumps all other requirements. The Stinger is a very good compromise between design and practicality. It has legit RWD proportions while maintaining internal packaging efficiency equal or better than some mid-size sedans. Of course different compromises could have made it bigger inside, but then it would be like an Arteon or TLX, which have convincing form but lack bona-fide proportion.

I hope Kia will continue working on these principles. EVs open up a lot of new possibilities for internal packaging, but I believe that ultimately beautiful external form and proportion are more important. After all there will be countless EVs to fulfill the practicality market.

I would love an EV Stinger. I keep trying to like the EV6 but it's just not my cup of tea from a design perspective (particularly the rear).

I hope we get some clarity on Kia's future plans for the Stinger. Though I won't hold my breath that it will happen anytime soon.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I hope we get some clarity on Kia's future plans for the Stinger. Though I won't hold my breath that it will happen anytime soon.

I think there is a method to Kia's silence: the rumor, "the Stinger is being canceled", goes out, and Kia waits to dispel that rumor: because the wait is free advertising.