What are the odds they name this new halo car Stinger?

[Kia Stinger]

Based on a report from Motorsjason, Kia is back on track developing a new high-performance electric vehicle, the Kia GT1, which is set to become the brand’s new halo car and serve as the replacement for the popular Kia Stinger. This grand tourer is expected to be larger than its predecessor and built on the new EM platform, which standardizes core components to allow for a variety of vehicle sizes.

Key Features and Performance​

The new Kia GT1 (internal codename) is rumored to be a powerhouse, with a dual-motor model projected to produce 603 horsepower. This immense power is expected to propel the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in the 3-second range. The car is also rumored to feature a large 113.2 kWh battery pack, with a target range of around 800 kilometers on a single charge. The vehicle is likely to utilize a cell-to-body structure, where the battery is integrated directly into the chassis for enhanced rigidity and a lower seating position.

Expected to cost about $60k USD and be released in 2027. Read more.

 

[Snicklefritz]

The butt profile remains unattractive.

 

[Alpinesting]

Hmm..I think a Hybrid would be pretty cool. That looks like what they call a "Shooting Brake" design.

 

[BIG-D]

I like it...

 

[Landshark]

make it a coupe and it would resemble my favorite car of all time. but wagons ... that's a no for me.

 

[NS_Stinger]

make it a coupe and it would resemble my favorite car of all time. but wagons ... that's a no for me. View attachment 91551

Don't discount wagons, the RS6 did it well.

 

[Thomby]

Unless it keeps some distinct Stinger design elements, they might as well just call it the GT1 or whatever and let it be its own car. The Stinger wasn't high volume or long enough duration for people to know it as a "halo car", so trying to force a link that isn't there is silly.

When they pitched the EV6 GT as a Stinger successor, that also seemed silly. An electrified Stinger, or a replacement sports sedan, or even an updated TTV6 in a performance car, all could've claimed some linkage, but an electric SUV with nothing in common is a stretch.

Same deal with the "Mustang" Mach-E, which tries to leverage the Mustang history without looking or sounding like a Mustang, or sharing any architecture. It's on a modified Explorer platform, so what's wrong with "Explorer Mach-E"?

 

[Landshark]

Don't discount wagons, the RS6 did it well.

sure there are high-performance wagons, but they still look stupid IMHO. if i don't want to look at it, then i don't want to own it.

 

[LordKOTL]

Unless it keeps some distinct Stinger design elements, they might as well just call it the GT1 or whatever and let it be its own car. The Stinger wasn't high volume or long enough duration for people to know it as a "halo car", so trying to force a link that isn't there is silly.

When they pitched the EV6 GT as a Stinger successor, that also seemed silly. An electrified Stinger, or a replacement sports sedan, or even an updated TTV6 in a performance car, all could've claimed some linkage, but an electric SUV with nothing in common is a stretch.

Same deal with the "Mustang" Mach-E, which tries to leverage the Mustang history without looking or sounding like a Mustang, or sharing any architecture. It's on a modified Explorer platform, so what's wrong with "Explorer Mach-E"?

It happens a lot. My 1st car was a 91 LeMans, which was a rebadged Daewoo econocan. I remember around the same time Plymouth rebadged a Dodge Shadow into the Duster. Plus, I think Mitsubishi's last Eclipse was an SUV, which is a similar tragedy.

I think GM was even trying to leverage the Corvette name into an electric SUV at one point.

I don't agree with the practice at all, but leveraging a known performance moniker into a glorified grocery-getter is nothing new.

As for the Mach-E? It's decent for what it is, but yeah, it's no mustang. They could have just called it a Mach-E. Same with this new Kia: unless it's a GT lift-back, why call it a Stinger?

 

[Thomby]

I think Mitsubishi's last Eclipse was an SUV, which is a similar tragedy

Oh yeah, I was never into the Eclipses but seeing that thing made me feel for the DSM fans. They at least called it the "Eclipse Cross" to halfway acknowledge what they were doing, but I don't see the point since none of that "brand equity" was going to pull Eclipse fans into a bland crossover.

 

[Maljey]

I love wagons so this concept's design is right up my alley. Being a supposed 500 mile range EV is awesome as well. That's one of my biggest concerns with EVs until the US get more charging infrastructure built up.

However, 500 miles of range most likely means its going to have a SUPER heavy battery using today's technology. This thing gonna weight 6000+ lbs?

 

[ballistic]

It happens a lot. My 1st car was a 91 LeMans, which was a rebadged Daewoo econocan. I remember around the same time Plymouth rebadged a Dodge Shadow into the Duster. Plus, I think Mitsubishi's last Eclipse was an SUV, which is a similar tragedy.

I think GM was even trying to leverage the Corvette name into an electric SUV at one point.

I don't agree with the practice at all, but leveraging a known performance moniker into a glorified grocery-getter is nothing new.

As for the Mach-E? It's decent for what it is, but yeah, it's no mustang. They could have just called it a Mach-E. Same with this new Kia: unless it's a GT lift-back, why call it a Stinger?

I heard Ford using the Mustang name for the Mach-E had something to do with fuel economy mandates and keeping the average fuel consumption for the "Mustang" brand low.

 

[Grump]

It happens a lot. My 1st car was a 91 LeMans, which was a rebadged Daewoo econocan.

Thats crazy! My first car was a 92 LeMans, never met anyone else that owned one. We're probably the only 2 ppl on earth to have owned a 6th gen LeMans and a Stinger.

 

[Ah GetFd]

I think Kia has done their dash BY killing the ICE Stinger. I have yet to see an EV6 on Australian roads as the supposed replacement to the Stinger after two plus years.

EVs are a dime a dozen here. There are 10 Chinese brands to begin with plus every major ICE manufactiurer has a range.

BYD is huge outselling Tesla.

Kia is just another car.

 

[LordKOTL]

I heard Ford using the Mustang name for the Mach-E had something to do with fuel economy mandates and keeping the average fuel consumption for the "Mustang" brand low.

Interesting. Makes sense in the convoluted way that auto makers and the government do things.

Still, no one would mistake it for a Mustang. For one, whenever my wife floors hers, she doesn't lose control and plows through a whole bunch of people.

Thats crazy! My first car was a 92 LeMans, never met anyone else that owned one. We're probably the only 2 ppl on earth to have owned a 6th gen LeMans and a Stinger.

Sweet! Mine was the SE hatchback in light blue. 4spd manual. What was yours?

I also saw one (red hatch) about...15 years ago when I was visiting my now in-laws in Slovakia. We went out to Rožňava and one was parked near the town square. Blew my mind to see one in a town in Central Europe of all places. It had to be some kind of import because the license plated were a long, skinny rectangle like most of Europe, but like a North American plate.

 

[Grump]

Sweet! Mine was the SE hatchback in light blue. 4spd manual. What was yours?

Grey, SE, Sedan, Auto. It rusted out and the headlight fell out at 114K KM. It had so many problems I called it the lemons. There was another red one in my small city, but I dont want to get too far off topic here.

GetFd, North America has 100% tarriffs on Chinese cars. We dont see the likes of BYD here, we get the major manufacturers and thats it. In Canada, EV6 is pretty common, but Tesla has been best seller up until now, where the Chevy Equinox EV took over. I've seen the youtube videos on BYD and honestly they look pretty good for their price point. How common are they in AU? Would you ever consider BYD?

I feel no attachment to the "Stinger" name. If an EV came with it, I wouldn't be any more likely to buy it over anything else. And quite frankly the Kia dealership experience is not great to begin with.

 

[LordKOTL]

Grey, SE, Sedan, Auto. It rusted out and the headlight fell out at 114K KM. It had so many problems I called it the lemons. There was another red one in my small city, but I dont want to get too far off topic here.

....

I feel no attachment to the "Stinger" name. If an EV came with it, I wouldn't be any more likely to buy it over anything else. And quite frankly the Kia dealership experience is not great to begin with.

1st: Nice! I got mine before I learned much of anything about cars, so I just drove it and tried to maintain, but it died the day before I got a loan approved for my next car.

2nd: Back on topic; as aforementioned I think that a lot of manufacturers try to re-do makes which were either successfully of have a kind of "mystique" that will make the generally-ignorant buying public buy in--specifically from non-enthusiasts.

That being said I'm sure that "Stinger" will be resurrected, but even if it's an EV I'd hope that Kia would make it like ours are: A GT liftback. Wagon? Eh...not plussed about it and there is no reason they can't redesign the back to look more like the Stinger's fastback. That being said what's reported is better than being a bloody SUV or an econocan.

Thankfully with Magnusson/Moss here in the states I've done a good job avoiding the Stealerships since I've not gotten any word of any decent one in my area. So far everything I've had to maintain has been in my wheelhouse, so I tend to not focus on what the experience is--in fact, I figure if I do have to take it to one it will be a BOHiCA experience.

 

[Ah GetFd]

Grey, SE, Sedan, Auto. It rusted out and the headlight fell out at 114K KM. It had so many problems I called it the lemons. There was another red one in my small city, but I dont want to get too far off topic here.

GetFd, North America has 100% tarriffs on Chinese cars. We dont see the likes of BYD here, we get the major manufacturers and thats it. In Canada, EV6 is pretty common, but Tesla has been best seller up until now, where the Chevy Equinox EV took over. I've seen the youtube videos on BYD and honestly they look pretty good for their price point. How common are they in AU? Would you ever consider BYD?

I feel no attachment to the "Stinger" name. If an EV came with it, I wouldn't be any more likely to buy it over anything else. And quite frankly the Kia dealership experience is not great to begin with.

No I wouldn't buy an EV. I have been in the electrical industry too long to buy anything with a battery in it. Lets see what happens in 10 years when the capacity drops to 80% then 60% then 40% with a trade in value of zero and a $15K battery replacement bill.
There are plenty of smart and sleek looking BYD sedans and hatches around. They released a truck a little while ago pic attached. The BYD Shark 6. See quite a few of those. But there s every brand you never heard of. Zeekr, LVD, Jaecoo, Geely, Chery, GWM with more due imminently.