Look Out BMW! Kia Says 2018 Stinger Will Be The First In A Line To Establish Premium Status

Kias rollout of its 18 Stinger at the Seoul auto show was both a preview of the fastback sports sedan for the domestic market and an historical moment in the evolution of the automaker’s marketing strategy, an executive says.

With the Stinger, Kia is launching the automaker’s new premium-line strategy for Korea, according to Chang Sik Kim, executive vice president-sales and marketing.

The Stinger is the first of several high-priced rear-wheel-drive models that will wear a new “E” class sub-brand badge, he says.

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cidflekken - 4/5/2017 2:51:18 PM

+8 Boost

WTF does "E" even represent? And what is Genesis, then to the Korean parent company? Kia needs to solidify its presence in the non-premium market before ever considering going premium, at least outside of its home country. The K900 is an absurd failure and the rest of the lineup, while good, aren't great. The key to the successes (or past successes) of Acura and Lexus were the fact that Honda and Toyota were perceived as the best of their respective market segment. Kia, nor Hyundai, are seen as such.

countguy - 4/5/2017 2:57:46 PM

+9 Boost

LMAO! If the genesis can't even compete with the luxury performance players, this sure can't.

MDarringer - 4/5/2017 11:26:22 PM

-6 Boost

Genesis is meeting its sales goals. Dynamically, Genesis is in the thick of it. Granted, it's not fielding AMG competitors YET, but Genesis is much more credible than idiot snobs give it credit for.

pepito66 - 4/5/2017 6:18:25 PM

+5 Boost

Please take something for the fever , then learn how to crawl and when you walk then let see if we can talk , lol.....

MDarringer - 4/5/2017 11:24:55 PM

-4 Boost

Kia won't be premium anytime soon, but it can easily be one level below premium in near-premium with Acura, Buick, and Lincoln pretty soon.

malba2367 - 4/6/2017 11:14:16 AM

0 Boost

There is no way these guys will compete with the Germans...just look at the struggle Cadillac is having. They have an established luxury brand, and their recent product (ATS/CTS) is dynamically better than the competition yet they can not touch the German 3. They may steal some sales from Acura/Infiniti and maybe Lexus but not from the Germans. Also, look at Alfa Romeo Guilia sales...they are barely making a dent despite having a storied brand and a car that is dynamically superior to the Germans
Genesis is not a credible threat to the German makes. It is a credible threat to Acura, Infiniti, Buick and Lincoln and a very small threat to Lexus. The lack of a dedicated dealer network makes it impossible to compete with Lexus as a lot of the Lexus experience that its buyers want has to do with excellent customer care. This can not be achieved in lower-end mass market dealers.

bnilhome - 4/6/2017 1:26:59 PM

-3 Boost

Kia has been delivering some strong designs and I would put that at near premium with Genesis and Buick and Lincoln. If Kia makes the Telluride that has the potential to be a special SUV. But I would not put Kia up with the German and Japanese luxury brands yet.