[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/cars\/sports-performance-and-prestige-cars\/kia-gives-go-ahead-stinger-gt\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/cars\/sports-performance-and-prestige-cars\/kia-gives-go-ahead-stinger-gt\/","headline":"Kia gives go-ahead to Stinger GT","name":"Kia gives go-ahead to Stinger GT","description":"Concept cars are peculiar beasts. Far too often, they parade pie-in-the-sky ideas wrapped up in extreme exterior designs with angles and curves that will never see the inside of a mainstream car manufacturer\u2019s showroom. Kia have been guilty of this in the past and for the last five years, they\u2019ve been showing off drafts for a rear-wheel-drive performance saloon that was just little more than teasing. Or so we thought, because now the South Korean carmaker has surprised us all […]","datePublished":"2017-01-11","dateModified":"2017-01-20","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feature-4.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/feature-4.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/cars\/sports-performance-and-prestige-cars\/kia-gives-go-ahead-stinger-gt\/","about":["Sports, Performance & Prestige Cars"],"wordCount":358,"keywords":["Audi A4","BMW 4 Gran Coupe","gt cars","Kia","Kia Stinger GT","Saloon cars"],"articleBody":"Concept cars are peculiar beasts. Far too often, they parade pie-in-the-sky ideas wrapped up in extreme exterior designs with angles and curves that will never see the inside of a mainstream car manufacturer\u2019s showroom.Kia have been guilty of this in the past and for the last five years, they\u2019ve been showing off drafts for a rear-wheel-drive performance saloon that was just little more than teasing.Or so we thought, because now the South Korean carmaker has surprised us all by confirming their rear-driven five-seat four-door fastback saloon will finally hit UK (and US) roads in 2017.Sting in the tailIt will go by the name of Stinger, which sounds about as fierce as you\u2019d want, with a more potent GT variant sitting above it. The car was originally shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2011!Rivalling the Audi A4 and BMW 4 Gran Coupe, the Stinger GT will be the \u201chighest-performance production vehicle in the company\u2019s history\u201d, powered by a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 with 360bhp and 376lb ft of torque, linked to a second generation eight-speed automatic transmission and riding on 19-inch alloys as standard.This adds up to a nought to 62mph sprint of 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 167mph.Kia has never really focused on performance and previously, had only dipped its toe into warm-hatch waters with the 201bhp Pro Cee\u2019d GT in 2013, so this is brave new territory for the brand.Different animalAlbert Biermann, Kia\u2019s head of vehicle test and high performance development, said the car feels like \u201ca special event\u201d for Kia.\u201cBecause nobody expects such a car, not just the way it looks but also the way it drives, it’s a wholly different animal,\u201d he added.The more sensible standard Stinger sits on 18-inch wheels and uses a two-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 251bhp and 260lb ft of torque.The Stinger will be offered with rear or all-wheel-drive in the States but it\u2019s unclear right now whether that will be the case on this side of the pond.We\u2019ll find out when it launches here before the end of the year."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Cars","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/\/cars\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Sports Performance And Prestige Cars","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/\/cars\/\/sports-performance-and-prestige-cars\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Kia gives go-ahead to Stinger GT","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/cars\/sports-performance-and-prestige-cars\/kia-gives-go-ahead-stinger-gt\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]