Kia's first ever grand tourer - the Stinger - is now in full production and available to order from UK dealerships.
Based on the 2011 Kia GT Concept from the Frankfurt Motor Show, the five-seater is the first rear-wheel-drive model Kia has introduced to Europe and in range-topping twin-turbo V6 guise, it is also the fastest-accelerating Kia ever, with a 0-60mph time of 4.7 seconds.
The Stinger was designed in Europe at the Frankfurt studios under the watch of President of Design and Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer and European Head of Design Gregory Guillaume.
As part of the development programme, prototypes covered the equivalent of 27 trips around the Equator, taking in extreme climate testing in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North and South America, as well as at least 480 laps (10,000 kilometres) of the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit.
Five versions are available in the UK, all with turbocharged direct-injection engines mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and featuring the latest electronic driver aids and connectivity systems.
The GT-Line and GT-Line S offer the choice of a 2.0-litre 244bhp T-GDi petrol engine or a 2.2-litre 197bhp CRDi turbodiesel, while the range-topping GT S has exclusive use of a 3.3-litre 365bhp twin-turbo V6. The GT S, as the fastest (top speed is 168mph) and most powerful model in the range, also has adjustable electronic suspension damping and Brembo brakes.
The 2.2-litre CRDi is the most frugal in the range with combined fuel consumption of 50.4mpg equating to a touring range of more than 600 miles, while the 2.0-litre T-GDi meanwhile, offers a balance of performance and economy with acceleration from 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds and combined fuel consumption of 35.8mpg.
The electronic eight-speed automatic gearbox was designed in-house and rewards drivers, says Kia, with.’..immediate shifts and optimum fuel efficiency.’ The transmission marks Kia’s first use of a Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber (CPA) torque converter which is designed to reduce torsional vibrations through the drivetrain.
The Stinger comes with the same seven-year/100,000-mile warranty as the rest of the Kia range It covers all parts and labour except those subject to normal wear and tear, and is transferable if the car is sold before the time/mileage limit expires.
Sunset Yellow is the only standard paint finish available and any other hue will set you back an extra £645!.Options include Pearl White, Midnight Black, Ceramic Grey, HiChroma Red and Panthera Metal and there's also a choice of three colours for the leather interior - black, grey or red.
Prices for the new Kia Stinger start from £31,995 on-the-road for the GT-Line 2.0 T-GDi and top out at £40,495 for the GT S 3.3 T-GDi V6.