One of the breakout stars of NAIAS 2017, the Kia Stinger will be sliding onto the market later this year, giving sports car buyers an aggressive new fastback sedan to think about. Since January, Kia's been doing the obligatory rounds, holding the Stinger's European debut at Geneva earlier this month and now its Asian debut at the Seoul Motor Show, which opened on Thursday. At its home show, Kia has revealed a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) that's quicker than originally estimated, noting that the Stinger will do the sprint in under 5 seconds.
The adjusted 0-62 mph figure is tucked into a mostly boilerplate press release about Kia's Seoul Motor Show presence. The Stinger with 365-hp, 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine will fire to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds, two-tenths quicker than the 5.1 seconds Kia was estimating at the car's Detroit debut. Those figures make it the quickest, most powerful Kia production car ever.
Kia has also dressed the Stinger up special for Seoul, drenching it in a bright yellow paint that brings back memories of another Kia Stinger: the 2014 GT4 Stinger concept. It doesn't have bumblebee stripes, but the Seoul Stinger's carbon fiber-finished front grille, air intakes and hood louvres give it plenty of contrast black.
You might take off style points for being a bit busy with the sundry grilles, vents and louvres cut all over its body, but we think the Stinger is destined to be one of the sexier cars of 2017 in the "sports car we can actually afford" category. Kia hasn't released pricing yet, but those that don't need a sub-5-second 0-62 or 365 hp can save some money by opting for one of the smaller engines. In the US, that will be a 2.0-liter turbo, while other markets will get a 2.2-liter turbodiesel. Buyers will also have the choice of all- or rear-wheel drive.
Another interesting tidbit about the Stinger's Asian debut: for the first time Kia is showing the all-new Stinger with the GT Concept that helped pave its path. Kia doesn't seem to have any photos of those two posing together just yet, but if we find 'em we'll add to the gallery. In the meantime, we've included separate photos of the 2018 Stinger and the 2011 GT Concept for your viewing and comparing pleasure.
Source: Kia