This is the 2018 Kia Stinger GT and it’s the car Kia hopes will win it a legion of new fans Down Under. Kia unwrapped a high-performance sedan designed for “spirited long-distance” driving in Detroit on Sunday in advance of the North American International Auto Show in a bid to boost its reputation among sports car enthusiasts and rival European offerings that have dominated the segment.
Pop the hood and the Stinger has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that pushes 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque at a low 1,350 rpm. The Stinger GT adopts the same 3.3L turbocharged V6 that headlines in the Genesis G90. It twists out 365 horsepower and, more importantly, 376 lb.-ft. of torque anywhere between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm.
The anti-German brigade who used to buy Saabs…
At yesterday’s presentation in Detroit was James Baggott, founder and editor of Car Dealer Magazine, who published an interesting observation from Kia team.
In their opinion: the Stinger GT a car it believes will offer former Saab buyers the chance to be different again.
But the manufacturer says it isn’t targeting the obvious rivals from BMW, Audi or Mercedes – instead it believes the Stinger GT will be the sort of car former Saab buyers might buy.
A spokesman said: “This is a car for buyers who want something different – the anti-German brigade who used to buy Saabs. Doctors, accountants, architects, those people who want individual styling, a larger car and value for money.” – Baggott informed us from Detroit. Read more about his impressions in the post “Kia unveils Stinger GT sports saloon in Detroit – a car for former Saab buyers“.
What do you think? Would you (as a Saab fan and owner) decide to buy such a car?
The problem with Kia is that their car models don’t stick around long. So I buy the car in 2018. In a couple of years they probably won’t be making the model anymore. Then I’m, again (like with SAAB), buying parts for a car that’s no longer being made. Plus, when a brand gives up on a car you have, it makes you look bad for not having better judgment.
Nope. Call it badge snobbery, but I just couldn’t say “I’ll take the Kia home” at a party and feel good about it.
Nope, never. I’d rather buy a Volvo.
As a matter of fact I’m driving both SAAB & Volvo right now.
The badge. No. It wont do. Add it’s a Maseratti copy from the hunches. Nice try though, but better to own Saab, build them in Sweden!
No matter what, it is still a Kia, I am not planning any car from them any time soon, and I am not planning to replace my 9-5 any time soon as well. If I had to, I may turn to V90 from Volvo.
No; the dash is not too ergonomic and totally not aircraft-cockpit like the older Saabs (notably 9000 and 9-3 pushbutton dash). Kia as no links with aviation and is not Swedish and they also make terrible unsafe little cars. Not my brand.
Actually, there is a car I would buy. For anyone that is accustomed to either a NG900 or OG9-3, check out the Skoda Octavia: everything will feel eerily familiar….
If you’re just using the car for it’s practicality, a standard model will do (the boot is almost exactly the same as the 9-3’s, only with a few clever additions, btw). Otherwise, if you want performance, check out the RS model.
I’ve said it in other places, but if I were VW and looking to make myself look “green” again, I’d buy the rights to Saab and make a new 900 based on the current Octavia. Maybe some old Saab engineers can even do something about those pesky diesel emissions, eh?
You’re quite right John, but let’s leave the diesel Saab please. That Stinger thingy looks nice but it is a Kia. And that’s its problem. I’m keeping my old Aero Estate forever, but yes I would fund a new Saab if someone made a Saaby-Saab!
I might. If all the saabs are gone. But I am a loyalest to saab. I want another saab honestly :P But my biggest concern is that there doesn’t seem to be any manual transmission cars left in the world anymore! :(
During the last 10 years, in between other cars I’ve had a Saab 95 and now a Saab 93. I love them so much that if I could, I would have sex with them. No other car that I have owned in my 50 years of motoring has made me feel like that, and I don’t think that any other car ever will ( apart from my lifelong dream car, the Jaquar ‘E’ type ), and definitely not a Kia thank you.
It may give buyers a chance to be different but it is still a Kia. No thank you, I will keep my 9-3 XWD.