Kia Stinger GT: A foot of nose to the stars German

Marc Lachapelle

Monday, 16 October, 2017 18:15

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Monday, 16 October, 2017 18:15

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At the last auto show of Detroit, a Korean car has literally “stolen the show” at all that the German manufacturers, the americans and japanese had to offer. A sport sedan long, wide and racy, which shone in the booth of Kia.

The Stinger GT is the expression of the most spectacular and completed to date of the audacity and ambition without limit of the second corean brand, on the rise for years. It was designed in his studio in europe, in Frankfurt, under the direction of the French Grégory Guillaume, one of the followers and disciples of Peter Schreyer, the man who radically transformed the style of Kia since 2006.

Her silhouette is deeply inspired by the study’s GT Concept, created by the same team and unveiled at the salon of the same city, in the fall of 2011. It borrows its name and some details cut Stinger GT4, the prototype presented in Detroit in 2014.

Kia Stinger GT 2018

Marc Lachapelle

In the spirit of the gran turismo classic

The Stinger was developed in the spirit of legendary grand touring cars such as the fabulous Maserati Ghibli of the sixties. Cars that allowed the aristocracy to go from Paris to Monaco to high-speed, in comfort, with style and panache.

The serial version has benefited from the exceptional expertise of Albert Biermann that the group Hyundai-Kia went out to recruit at BMW where he led the development of the famous models Mr.

In addition to interest to the lower part which influence the performance and behavior, the German engineer has insisted that each car development accumulates 10 000 km on the course the most demanding in the world : the north loop of the Nürburgring, the Nordschleife.

Kia Stinger GT 2018

Marc Lachapelle

Roads mythic and a few circuits

When it finally came time to ride the Stinger, the manufacturer has, however, chosen california roads that would lead us to the centre of testing of the Hyundai group, in the Mojave desert, for tests on various circuits also used during its development.

In Los Angeles, we were given the keys to versions pre-production of the Stinger GT, which sits at the top of the range, powered by a V6 twin-turbo 3.3-liter that produces 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque. Enough for a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. A version that is more affordable will also be available, later, with a four-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-liter that will deliver 255 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.

Kia Stinger GT 2018

Marc Lachapelle

The two engines are exclusively paired with an automatic transmission to eight reports and a truck full for the canadian market. The latter transmits 80% of the torque to the rear wheels in Sport mode to sharpen the handling, and up to 50% to the front wheels when it’s slippery.

The Stinger is longer than that of the rival posh such as the Audi A5 Sportback, BMW 4 Gran Coupe, Infiniti Q50, Lexus GS and Mercedes-Benz CLS. Its wheelbase is longer too, which further accentuates its sleek profile.

Sign of confidence in huge Kia in new-car-queen – or arrogance – it allowed us to compare it to an Audi A7, a Porsche Panamera 4 and several of the cars mentioned above on a path autocross long and fast at the test centre. And the Stinger GT is far from having lost face.

Simple and effective

Inside, a touch-screen way tablet overlooks three large air nozzles round at the european, no surprise. Without being as rich as in its rivals more chic and a lot (a lot) more expensive, the finish and quality of materials are beyond reproach.

Less tape-to-eye, the controls are much more user-friendly and accessible. More ergonomic, what. Including the controls installed on the branches of a sports steering wheel in which the rim sleeve of leather, flat on the bottom, is well moulded and not too large.

Kia Stinger GT 2018

Marc Lachapelle

The driving position is impeccable and the seats wrapped in soft leather and flexible. The bucket seats in front are well sculpted, but it needed more side support on the layout of the autocross and the road course to the testing center. The pneumatic bolster adjustable, optional on the GT, help may be.

Two adults of normal size will be comfortable in the back. Not the third, because of the tunnel in the floor and console space in the center. The large tailgate at the rear, it offers easy access to a cargo compartment in which the volume goes from 660 to 1158 litres by folding the rear backrest, cut into sections 60/40.

Surprising encounter

With a record impressive technique and great expectations, the first few kilometres were rather disappointing. The Stinger GT blue was comfortable, smooth, quiet and stable, but that’s about all. It was certainly not the sensations that you expect from a “grand-tourism”.

The chance has well-made things. Spinning on the road, in the direction of the Mojave desert, I saw in the distance two cars that I was first taken to the Stinger. This is the point at which the GT is low and wide at the back because he was in fact a pair of Porsche 911, slowed down by a truck, and a yellow line double.

At the first dotted line, the two Porsche vehicles have fully accelerated to double-up. I did the same, and the V6 twin-turbo we had crushed in our seats with a rumble pleasing.

The Stinger is immediately animated as a pure-blood after a blow to the heel or whip. The following minutes were spent to follow these sports German at the track and at a good speed, without excess and without visible effort, on a ribbon of asphalt well twisted.

In turn, we felt just a hint of body roll well damped and a trace of understeer in tight curves, the train full, electric power steering, shock absorbers variables and the Brembo brakes working in unison, with an impeccable balance.

On the first straight line, the 911 helped to let us pass. No kidding. And yes, I have witnesses that have same pictures. The Stinger GT had to pass the test of the grand-tourism with gusto.

Kia Stinger GT 2018

Kia

An incredible price

The official prices are not yet known, but we know that a Stinger GT with all options will sell for less than 52 000$ in Canada, which makes it a value and an incredible bargain. In comparison, the same car will cost about 50 000 US$ to our neighbours to the south.

At this price, it gets a little bit of the absence of a crest famous or prestigious on the cover. Especially with the solid warranty and excellent ratings for quality and reliability that has collected the brand of the Korean in recent years.

Kia will offer only two hundred copies of the Stinger for the year 2018 in the country and this will be all of GT that will fade probably fairly quickly.

The selection and quantities will increase subsequently. Notice to interested parties.

Kia Stinger GT 2018

Marc Lachapelle

Technical data sheet

Name: Kia Stinger 2018
Base price: 43 000 $ (projected)
Model tested: GT
Price of the model to the test: to $ 52,000 (projected)
Configuration : four-wheel drive (gear full) with engine at the front
Basic mechanical: V6 dual-turbo 3.3 L
Power/torque: 365 hp / 376 lb-ft
Mechanical optional: four-cylinder Engine turbocharged 2.0 L
Power/torque: 255 hp / 260 lb-ft
Transmission : eight-speed Automatic
Fuel consumption announced: 10.4 L/100 km (city), 8.0 L/100 km (highway)
Warranty basic : 5 years/100 000 km
Competition: Audi A5, BMW 440i GT, Mercedes-Benz E43 AMG, Porsche Panamera, Volvo S90 T6 R-Design

Strengths

Silhouette, performance and handling impressive
Ergonomics and comfort is impeccable
Price and value are exceptional

Weak Points

A few mouldings chrome too
Sensations rare in normal driving
Lateral support limited seats

Rating (out of 10)

Fuel consumption : 7
Equipment : 8
Price : 9
Style : 9
Comfort (front) : 8
Comfort (rear) : 8
Handling : 9
Performance : 9
Storage space : 8

Overall rating : 9