Kia is working on a sleek sports sedan with rear-wheel drive that was first previewed in 2011 in the form of the GT concept.
Code-named CK, the new car has already been spotted on the back of a truck and is set for debut later this year, most likely at September’s 2016 Paris Auto Show.
Until now it was thought to be called a GT but reports out of Australia suggest Kia will go with the Stinger name.
Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
Stinger was the name Kia used for a sports car concept unveiled in 2014. While the sports car has been ruled out for production due to lack of demand, some of its design elements—and it seems its name, too—will feature on the sedan.
Underpinning the car is thought to be a shortened version of the platform found in the Genesis G80 and G90 sedans. And one of its available powertrains will be the same twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V-6 featured in the Genesis sedans, where it delivers 365 horsepower. This will be a range-topping option with less powerful 4- or 6-cylinder engines expected to join it.
The new Kia, whatever it ends up being called, should arrive in showrooms midway through next year as a 2018 model. It will sit somewhere between the Cadenza and K900 in Kia’s lineup while competing with style-led sedans such as the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS, albeit at a significant discount.
Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
While both Kia and sister brand Hyundai built their reputation on cheap and cheerful cars, declining profits despite increasing sales are forcing the automakers to target more profitable segments.
In response, Hyundai has made moves into the luxury segment with the launch of Genesis. Kia on the other hand is going after buyers looking for sporty, premium models.
It’s a boon for consumers as we get a greater selection of reasonably-priced, rear-wheel-drive sports sedans. Hallelujah!
