The Kia Stinger will get a diesel and two petrol options in the UK
[nggallery id=2422 template=customlinks]
The new Kia Stinger saloon – recently revealed as the Stinger GT – gets revealed in European /UK guise with a choice of diesel and petrol power.
But the number of people prepared to pay £40k plus for a performance Kia – even one with a 3.3 litre V6 and 0-62mph in 5 seconds – is likely to be very small, so the real business for Kia is going to be the Stinger models with rather more prosaic engines – step forward the Kia Stinger Europe and the UK will actually be buying.
It seems Kia aren’t interested in using hybrid drivetrains in the Stinger, so you’ll have a choice of two petrol engines and a diesel option when the Stinger goes on sale in the UK at the end of 2017.
The big seller will no doubt be the 2.2 litre diesel which comes with 197bhp and a fairly lethargic spring to 62mph of 8.5 seconds.
More interesting – and effectively the poor man’s Stinger GT – will be the Stinger with Kia’s 2.0 litre Turbo Theta petrol engine which comes with 252bhp. Sadly, all we have is the hope it will be lively as Kia don’t seem to be willing to deliver any performance figures.
As we already know, it’s the Stinger GT grabbing headlines, and in the UK it will get the 3.3 litre twin Turbo V6 with 365bhp and a 0-62mph of a decent 5.1 seconds.
All the Stingers will come with Kia’s latest eight-speed automatic gearbox, and it seems all three engine options can be had with RWD or 4WD.
It all sounds quite promising, although much will depend on how much the Stinger costs. But if Kia want UK buyers onside, perhaps they should think twice before issuing press releases and statements calling the Stinger a ‘Sedan’? It’s not a Sedan, it’s a saloon.
Creeping Americanisms – color, tire, fender, sedan, hood et al – really do irritate.
Have your say - leave a comment