Kia Stinger European specifications announced

Kia certainly created a stir at the North American International Auto Show earlier this month by unveiling the Stinger. Described by its maker as a fastback sports sedan, sales across Europe are due to begin during the fourth quarter of 2017.

This all-new model measures 4,830 mm (15’ 10”) from bumper to bumper. That's 25 mm (1”) shorter than the current Kia Optima, but 190 mm (7”) longer than a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé.

Kia Stinger (2018) Side

Maybe Kia wants to avoid direct comparisons to certain German rivals, though. Indeed, according to Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer at Kia Motors Europe, “Stinger is a true gran turismo, a car for spirited long-distance driving. It's not about outright power, hard-edged dynamics and brutal styling, all at the expense of luxury, comfort and grace.”

Reinforcing that ethos is the availability of a 2.2 litre turbo-diesel engine which, regrettably, most European customers are expected to choose. However, there are a couple of more interesting petrol-fuelled alternatives.

Engine Theta II petrol Lambda II petrol R diesel
Type I4 turbocharged V6 twin-turbocharged I4 turbocharged
Displacement 1,998 cc 3,342 cc 2,199 cc
Max power 251 bhp (188 kW / 255 PS) @ 6,200 rpm 365 bhp (276 kW / 370 PS) @ 6,000 rpm 197 bhp (147 kW / 200 PS) @ 3,800 rpm
Max torque 353 Nm (260 lb/ft) @ 1,400-4,000 rpm 510 Nm (376 lb/ft) @ 1,300-4,500 rpm 440 Nm (325 lb/ft) @ 1,750-2,750 rpm

All three options come with an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. Furthermore, a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive is being offered – a key factor that helps to distance Stinger from the front-wheel drive only Optima.

Clearly the 3.3 litre V6 is the pick for performance fans. Kia reckons a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 5.1 seconds makes it the brand's quickest-accelerating production car ever, while top speed for this version should be around 167 mph (270 km/h).

A plug-in hybrid powertrain would probably help to convince some prospective Stinger buyers (especially any badge snobs). The absence of one therefore seems to be a major omission.

Kia Stinger (2018) DashboardKia Stinger (2018) Front Side

Kia Stinger (2018) Rear SideKia Stinger (2018) Interior

Related posts:
UK prices for the Kia Optima Sportswagon
Kia adds a plug-in hybrid to its Optima range

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