DETROIT AUTO SHOW: KIA Teases 315 HP GT4 Stinger - Will This Be The First Korean R8?

If you recall over the last few years Kia has scored more than a few corporate staffing coups most notably may be former Audi design chief Peter Schreyer, With all of this new talent guiding the automaker, Kia style and design is rapidily moving to the forefront of the industry.  No longer are they trailing the industry, but in many ways right on the cutting edge.

Take a look at the press release below:

The Kia faithful will immediately notice the latest iteration of the signature grille resting mere inches from the ground. The surround glows white and is flanked by vertical LED headlamps.

Front-brake cooling vents funnel air around custom 20-inch wheels. A carbon fiber front splitter mounted below the bumper provides added downforce for the car and keeps the GT4 Stinger's front tires firmly planted to the tarmac.

Under the hood you ask? A turbocharged 2.0-liter that pumps 315 horsepower to the rear wheels.

More to come. Stay tuned.

Now is you look at the teaser shot you can immediately see a hint of Audi in the design. Possibly the R8?  Just when you think you have the Koreans nailed down they go and do something like this!

dlin - 1/2/2014 3:13:26 PM

+2 Boost

R8? XD

MattDarringer - 1/2/2014 3:17:54 PM

0 Boost

There is NOTHING "R8" about this. It is a shooting brake coupe based on the next Genesis coupe platform. If anything it's Kia's 370Z.

Agent009 - 1/2/2014 4:36:42 PM

-2 Boost

Or Corvette?

leej - 1/2/2014 3:57:29 PM

+1 Boost

The stance from the front...wide, low, and squat...looks very R8 to me too.

carloslassiter - 1/2/2014 4:00:46 PM

+1 Boost

Why is that Kia can crank out so many cool looking concepts, and many that make it to production, while most of the time GM can't get out of its own way?

Agent009 - 1/2/2014 4:37:22 PM

0 Boost

Shows you who is lean and mean and who fat and slow.

t_bone - 1/2/2014 9:06:05 PM

-1 Boost

Agree. I'm shocked to say that they are coming out with some of the best "normal car" designs on the road.

scenicbyway12 - 1/2/2014 6:49:58 PM

+3 Boost

Why does this remind me of a 15 year old Saab concept car?

Agent63 - 1/3/2014 12:07:27 AM

-1 Boost

KIA and Hyundai have made some moves in the past few years with their styling. They have made brands like Honda and Toyota look boring and some, even dated. GO KIA!.

Only narrow minded folks will think KIA or Hyundai doesn't have a chance in the market for high performance or luxury cars. The Genesis and Equus are clearly eligible. It's just the nameplate that tarnishes it all. Again it's all perception. Like Toyota rebranding their cars to Lexus lol.

MattDarringer - 1/3/2014 12:35:10 PM

0 Boost

Grouping all their premiums under the Genesis nameplate makes LOADS of sense:

Hyundai :: Chevy
Kia :: Buick
Genesis :: Cadillac

HughJass - 1/3/2014 4:32:59 PM

+1 Boost

You mean how all Lexus sedans except the ES have unique platforms not shared with Toyota?

Hyundai/KIA share their platforms with whatever company they stole the designs from.
Optima shares platform with Audi, KIA 5 series shares platform and interior with BMW 5 series. etc etc etc.

It's all about price. Without a low price, cheap white people would just buy somewhere else. Nobody who buys a Korean cars says "I wish I could have paid more for a counterfeit car".

HughJass - 1/3/2014 9:28:31 AM

+1 Boost

Awesome, I can easily rebadge this an R8 and trailer trash will come-a-runnin!

Smart German. Why think up new designs for Audi when the talentless Koreans will pay you 10x as much and give you a skank-filled condo in Seoul to recycle your old designs.

MattDarringer - 1/3/2014 12:36:06 PM

0 Boost

There is no need for cultural bigotry in a dissenting opinion.

HughJass - 1/3/2014 4:33:55 PM

-1 Boost

A Jap can design for Ferrari, a Chinaman for Mini/BMW yet a Korean can't design anything unless they have something to copy from and even then they have to hire a white guy to do it.

It's the truth.