Underdog? This Is What Happens When You Bring An Audi Designer And A BMW Engineer Together In Korea

Ah, Los Angeles: Where image rules, poolboys drive BMWs, and self-worth can hinge on the car you drive. It’s the kind of brand-conscious city where the Kia Stinger GT could face an uphill battle no matter how quickly it can climb into the surrounding canyons.

But for enthusiasts who don’t give a damn about the Kia badge on the exterior—or those who are handy with a roll of duct tape—the Stinger GT is looking like the Underdog of the Year. As with various slope-roofed German sedans, the Stinger disguises a hatchback, but not its ambitions, whether in performance- or bargain price: that would be (a still-unofficial) $39,895 for a base Stinger GT, with its 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6; or $32,795 for the Stinger 2.0T and its 255-hp four with a single, twin-scroll turbo. If some four-legged, sled-dog traction is in order, add $2,200 for AWD on any model.

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Mason3Robert - 10/10/2017 1:52:11 PM

-2 Boost

Liddle=Little
Still=Steal


SMH=SMH

Certain political demographics are pretty obvious!

Yonder7 - 10/10/2017 3:00:56 PM

-1 Boost

I do not care about the Badge, also 7 years on warranty, thats because you trust in your product. If I was buying car in that category, I would buy the Stinger and would save several thounsands to take my family on vacations. Also the car looks very nice and roomy compared to the others but with better performance at an smart price. Yes, I think that those who does not care about badges and do not give explanations to anyone, will be buying this piece of technology.

7msynthetic - 10/10/2017 10:59:32 PM

+7 Boost

You'll care about the badge when you go to resell it. It still ugly and it still has a shatty name.

222max - 10/10/2017 3:24:42 PM

-1 Boost

Crap on that. They can unload one on me. I'll certainly take it.

1fstmach - 10/10/2017 3:29:07 PM

-5 Boost

can't wait to test drive it myself, this is totally unlike anything that KIA has ever made..it is outside of their "norm" they are trying to grow and evolve and it shows w/ their hires over the past 2-3 years.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 10/10/2017 3:36:16 PM

0 Boost

They can get behind a lot of real luxury brands with good cars and good warranties in the "We plan on stealing sales from BMW + Benz" business plan. Nice effort for sure. What do you think the depreciation hit will be in year 1 on a $40k Kia? Ouch...

bw5011 - 10/10/2017 3:53:21 PM

+7 Boost

Wait a year and get the used AWD GT for 25-28k with less than 5k miles on it.

knowitall1985 - 10/10/2017 5:20:20 PM

+11 Boost

Remember if it's cheaper, it's cheaper.....

zlives - 10/10/2017 7:06:47 PM

0 Boost

if its cheaper to buy market share, then it could mean a good buy for the consumer. Plenty of people would want performance without the cash outlay of a name brand.
i guess we will have to wait for industry reviews and comparisons and then maybe test drives.
for me quality finish is really important too, so lets see where does this car show.
competition is always good for the consumer.

MDarringer - 10/10/2017 7:29:48 PM

-5 Boost

If the pool boy is driving a BMW he's slinging weenie to old women in addition to cleaning their pools.

The Stinger will have good build quality and reliability. From early reports, it's a wonderful drive.

Stylistically, it's different, but not 100% successful. It's busy in places and could easily be made a looker with some minor tweaks.

MBKing - 10/10/2017 11:45:40 PM

+6 Boost

I leased a limited optima a few years back as an extra car and I ended up selling it to Carmax three months into the lease. The car had every option you could ask for but honestly just felt cheap and the drive was awful. The cabin noise on the freeway was terrible. The seats were leather but nothing that you would get in a premium interior from a German 4 door saloon. Hopefully it has gotten better since, because I do think this car looks nice but honestly it won’t get an “enthusiast” to commit to how it rides. Maybe the AWD option might be the solution, but I have a feeling once the options get added you’re not going to be too far off from some better car options.

1fstmach - 10/11/2017 11:46:54 AM

-3 Boost

suuuure you did

Dr550 - 10/11/2017 12:46:16 AM

+6 Boost

Looks more like a SCUD than a Stinger missile.

MDarringer - 10/11/2017 8:20:38 AM

0 Boost

Which old Pontiac designers' likeness is in the styling. I studied the Stinger intently to see any resemblance with John Delorean's face but I could not find any.

1fstmach - 10/11/2017 11:42:36 AM

-2 Boost

Going to go out on a limb and say the designer (which is European) hasn't ever heard of that dead and defunct brand)

cidflekken - 10/11/2017 1:51:53 PM

+5 Boost

Sorry, but the design is a lazy effort. Take an Optima, add a Genesis Coupe front-end, a Dodge Dart rear end, lower it, widen it...and you're done. And the interior is just a collection of ideas that lacked any type of imagination or creativity. And don't even get me started on that red-ruler side marker thing that looks like a complete afterthought and, frankly, flat-out cheap.