This is Kia's first attempt to make a sports saloon that will rival against expensive European imports. It's called the Stinger and yes, that's a cool name for a cool sports saloon made by the Koreans. Wow, looks like the producers are getting the Winter Olympics spirit in there.
Before taking a spin, let's check out what's what about the Stinger. Kia Motors rattled the world with their rear-wheel drive luxury sports fastback called the Stinger when it was showcased to the world at the 2017 North American International Auto Show and then went on sale on the Korean market since May 2017.
Drawing inspiration from the 2011 GT Concept, the Stinger stays true to the concept design while delivering the dynamics and performance equivalent of expensive European imports with thanks to former BMW engineer Albert Biermann, who is head of Kia Motors' Vehicle Test and High Performance Development. Under the hood, it comes with a choice of three engines ranging from a the 2.2L CRDi-VGT engine with 202PS of power output, 2.0L Turbo GDi engine with 255PS of power output, and the fiery 3.3L Turbo V6 engine producing 370PS of power and 52kgf-m of torque, propelling the Stinger to a 0-100kph time of 4.9 seconds. All three engine choices are mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox with Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber torque converter.
The Stinger is rear-wheel drive as standard but the optional AWD system comes with Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control system that promises rear-wheel drive agility with adaptability on any road condition. It even comes with a wide array of active safety systems featuring a driver monitoring system for the first time in a Kia. It starts from 35,000,000 to 48,800,000 Korean Won.
Of course, the Stinger may not be as fast as the BMW M3 but it can outrun one of Kim Jong-Un's wonky northern missiles. Cue the tunnel explosions, please. Although luxurious in spirit, the Stinger really fizzes the drivers into thinking they're driving a Kia and because with all that dynamics and performance inspired from its Euro rivals, the Stinger never fails to impress and I have a feeling this could be my favorite Korean car in the game as I shall now demonstrate with a little lap round the Top Gear Track.
Sure, this car maybe Korean but it has the "Nerf This" expression we all love about and I can picture of me dressing as that Korean girl in a bodysuit riding a mecha from a videogame everybody loves but never mind all that because let's see how good the Stinger is...
Actually, the Stinger is about as fast as the second-generation BMW Z4 or the previous Chevrolet Camaro, but I'm not done yet because it's time to do a proper experiment at something fit for businessmen, something fit for business and leisure, something like...
Yes, it's Long Beach. Little did you know, in most Asian car commercials, the most common places to shoot an Asian car commercial can be either Spain, Australia, or most famously, California, USA. The Golden State, oh yeah, and to demonstrate if the Stinger has the guts to quash the Europeans, I'm picking the ideal candidate for this kind of comparo.
It's a Jaaaaaaaag XE with a supercharged V6 engine on it and because they are cultural opposites, this can make the ideal shootout for this comparo. Think d.Va versus Tracer. Oh, sorry, was that annoying? Now you all know what it feels like when I taste these two luxury saloons on the streets of Long Beach so let's see if the Stinger holds to the promise.
And now the results...
XE -1:48.119
Stinger - 1:47.640
Nerf this, Britain.
The Stinger really is Kia's tour de force against its European rivals but only just because there are some downsides to it. Still, despite its flaws, the Stinger is proof that the Koreans can really make a sports saloon that will challenge the world with pride and prestige so well done, Kia Motors, for the Stinger. Well, now that my talk with the Stinger done, come with me and I'll show you what've done to the Stinger.
A dreaming bird. No words to explain it.
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