Kia first came to the United States in 1992 with the intention of selling economical cars that appealed to commuters, college graduates, and those looking for a value buy. With this mantra, the Korean automaker never dared to approach the sports car realm. Most sports car manufacturers had already established a loyal following and cornered the market. Yet here we are 25 years later, and it’s finally happened. Kia has breached the sports car segment. If you haven’t heard the news, the 2018 Kia Stinger looks, feels, and plays the part of a sports sedan masterpiece. Here’s a quick look at the stunning 2018 Stinger.
The Peter Schreyer Touch
If you hadn’t noticed, Kia started to undergo a revolution of design and ingenuity starting in 2006. That’s the year Kia lured Peter Schreyer from the Volkswagen Group, which manufactures Bentley, Audi, and Lamborghini. When he arrived, he turned his interests to making Kia a more reputable brand through attractive design. The Kia Stinger was just one of his brainchildren. Combining European styling with Korean innovation, the Stinger was born, and just 12 years later, it’s finally made its way to production.
A Driver’s Car
With two turbocharged engine options, the 2018 Kia Stinger is the ultimate driver’s car. What makes this even more remarkable is that it’s Kia’s first attempt to create a sports car, and it seems like they hit on all cylinders. The stock engine for the Stinger is a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder that kicks out 255 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. If that’s not enough to satisfy your zest for speed, an upgrade to the 3.3-liter twin turbo V6 will undoubtedly do the trick. Behind this engine, the Kia pumps out an impressive 365 horsepower and up to 376 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough power to compare with the big boys of the industry.
Both engine choices mate with a swift, sporty eight-speed automatic transmission.
Performance Hardware
Performance isn’t just about having a mammoth engine. It’s about having the underpinnings to tackle any obstacle, curve, or straightaway thrown in your path. Fortunately, the Stinger contributes a number of specs that easily propel it around the tightest spaces and turns. Brembo vented disc brakes allow you to stop on a dime or slow your speed enough to turn comfortably, while dynamic stability control with five modes allows you to grip the road with ease.
A MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspension provides even more comfort as you drive, while rack-mounted motor driven power steering allows you to navigate with no trouble at all.
Safety Features
The Kia Stinger looks and plays the part of a sports car, but it has tons of active safety features you don’t see often in the genre. All of this tech is 100 percent designed to prevent accidents. Highlights include a Kia-first driver attention alert, forward collision assistance, blind spot detection, and rear cross traffic alert. With these features, you can feel safe and confident even when you’re cruising with some pace.
The 2018 Kia Stinger is a roll of the dice for Kia, but everything about it seems like a winner. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of Kia history by getting behind the wheel of the Stinger in late 2017.
Image by Kia
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.