In
addition to its refreshed design, revealed earlier this month, the enhanced Kia
Stinger includes Kia’s latest driver assist and safety features, as well as
improved interior packaging for greater space and comfort. For North America,
the upgraded model is also now offered with a powerful new ‘Smartstream’
2.5-litre turbocharged gasoline engine.
The
new Kia Stinger will go on-sale in Korea during the third quarter of 2020, with
sales due to commence in many of Kia’s global markets later in the year.
The
upgraded Stinger offers a revised range of three powerful turbocharged gasoline
engines, in line with its reputation as the most performance-focused car that
Kia makes. Each engine offers swift acceleration and rapid responses to driver
input, while offering a refined grand touring experience for steady cruises.
A
new engine has been added to the Stinger line-up exclusively for North American
customers. The new ‘Smartstream’ 2.5-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct
injection) engine sits directly between the two existing gasoline powertrains,
producing 304 ps at 5,800 rpm. The maximum torque of the new four-cylinder
engine, 422 Nm, is accessible from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm, making it easy for
drivers to build and maintain speed in all conditions.
The
most powerful engine in the Stinger line-up, a twin-turbo 3.3-litre T-GDi V6
from Kia’s ‘Lambda’ engine family, remains unchanged, save for a new Electronic
Variable Exhaust Valve system. This features a small butterfly valve in the
exhaust which opens and closes, producing a more prominent, deeper exhaust note
in Sport driving modes, or a quieter, more subdued exhaust note in Eco or
Comfort mode. As well as enhancing the sound quality, the revised exhaust flow
path helps to liberate an extra 3 ps from the engine (for a total of 373 ps at
6,000 rpm). Its 510 Nm torque is accessible from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm, giving the
Stinger effortless performance everywhere.
The
2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder ‘Theta’ engine, also available since the
car’s launch in 2017, is unchanged, producing 255 ps at 6,200 rpm and 353 Nm
torque from 1,400 to 4,000 rpm.
All
three engines are paired with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic
transmission, matching the car’s long-legged gran turismo personality.
Depending
on market and specification, the upgraded Stinger is now available with an
optional new 10.25-inch touchscreen display. Bluetooth multi-connection enables
users to connect up to two mobile devices at the same time – one for hands-free
phone and multimedia use; the other for media use only. Its advanced
split-screen display lets users control or monitor different vehicle features
at the same time, customizing the screen with a series of different widgets.
The 10.25-inch system offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, with a
voice control system for many of the car’s features, such as heating and
ventilation, audio and navigation.
A
new 8.0-inch touchscreen display with a narrow-bezel design is also available,
replacing the previous 7.0-inch system. Depending on market, the larger display
also offers wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
Drivers
have a choice of two instrument cluster displays, based on vehicle
specification. The standard 3.5-inch mono-TFT cluster is now replaced with a
larger 4.2-inch color-TFT LCD cluster, delivering improved visibility and
displaying a wider range of information to the driver. In addition, a
fully-digital, high-resolution 7.0-inch ‘Supervision’ cluster is available – a
full-color display with vivid graphics for different driving modes, delivering
crystal-clear information to the driver.
The
upgraded Stinger features a series of new ‘connected car’ features to improve
convenience for owners in many countries. Depending on market and vehicle
specification, among these technologies is a Remote Engine Start system, which
allows owners to start their car remotely using the Stinger’s smart key.