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2018 KIA STINGER: Family fun cars automaker Kia has hit the big-time with the introduction of the 270km/h Stinger. Image: Kia SA JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – Kia Motors SA has confirmed that its multi-award winning Stinger large sport sedan, the brand’s most powerful car yet, will arrive in the country in August 2018… but in limited numbers.
The message there, of course, is order now… and, er, make a beeline for your nearest dealer. The Stinger’s sales numbers are already swelling worldwide, described by its maker as ”the embodiment of an everyday dream car”.
Others, probably, have called it ”a honey”.
2018 KIA STINGER: Family fun cars automaker Kia has hit the big-time with the introduction of the 270km/h Stinger. Image: Kia SA Gary Scott, Kia SA’s CEO, told The Corner in a media release: “From its birth as the GT concept and through many years of tuning and refining on the Nürburgring Nordschleife no detail was spared in reating a true gran turismo.
”It is not about outright power, hard-edged dynamics, and brutal styling at the expense of luxury, comfort and grace. Rather, it’s a driver’s car equally suited to spirited long-distance driving and everyday enjoyment.”
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The Stinger was designed in Europe by Peter Schreyer, Kia’s president and chief design officer and Gregory Guillaume, senior chief designer with Kia Motors Europe. Chassis and drive train, Kia says, were honed on the Nürburgring Nordschleife and on some of the world’s most dynamically challenging driving roads under the direction of Albert Biermann, executive vice-president and head of vehicle testing and performance.
The car was first shown at the 2017 North American auto show and arrived in other global markets towards the end of that year. It was shortlisted for the North American and European Car of the Year awards and the 2018 World Car of the Year awards.
2018 KIA STINGER: Family fun cars automaker Kia has hit the big-time with the introduction of the 270km/h Stinger. Image: Kia SA Its 3.3-litre, twin-turbo, V6 petrol engine has been named on the Ward’s ’10 Best Engines’ list for 2018.
Kia SA will introduce the Stinger in GT trim, which brings with it a 3.3-litre, twin-turbo, V6, petrol engine capable of 272kW at 6000rpm and 510Nm from 1300-4500rpm. Drive will go to the rear wheels through an eight-speed auto transmission.
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The automaker says it is the most powerful and fastest Kia yet created, given a 0-100km/h time of 4.9sec and top speed of 270km/h.
Full specification and prices will be announced at the end of April 2018. Customers and fans are invited to visit the Stinger SA website for up-to-date information.
2018 KIA STINGER: Family fun cars automaker Kia has hit the big-time with the introduction of the 270km/h Stinger. Image: Kia SA
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