The fact that Kia will release something similar, it became clear a few years ago. Invite German designers and engineers and at the same time not make a single "bomb" car, albeit for the company's image? No, Korean charged hatches and sedans with GT nameplates are a separate song, more precisely, the traditional warm-up of the public hooked on the brand.
For a new audience
Stinger, presented in 2017 in Geneva after the sensation in the States, is a thing of a completely different caliber, and, as it seems, quite promising, with its own audience. A charged liftback for four - five seats is still a marketing ploy - implies a special philosophy for both the owner and his family.
It seems like wives and children in such a car most likely should not be ... But with considerable dimensions - a length of 4,830 mm, a width of 1,870 mm - and a considerable, 406-liter trunk typical of a real Gran Turismo, why not?
Peter Schreyer, and together with him Gregory Guillaume, once again showed that they had not exhausted themselves and found non-standard solutions for a completely atypical product for KIA. Imagine for a moment the body of the Stinger in one piece. Without doorways, lights, hood and tailgate. Powerful, heavy silhouette, almost in the spirit of muscle cars. And then a miracle follows.
Several correctly drawn lines that divided the monolith into components unexpectedly visually lighten the structure. The same narrow and deep penetrations of the taillight extensions into the fenders are unusual, but justified. Justified and small, like a sunroof, the bonnet, which reminded me of Porsche...
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In practice, the negative side is also revealed. The opening angle of the rear doors is very small, the shape and size of the openings - an adult will squeeze through with difficulty, despite the fact that the second row is not cramped for two. So, nevertheless, the idea to put the children of a young and advanced married couple there was originally.
And yet, in my opinion, many design solutions for the exterior are successful: on the road, the Stinger will be completely recognizable. Yes, and a set of proposed colors, including pure, without any metallic yellow, gray, blue - very competent.
And black chrome à la Rado clock grilles, air intakes on the hood and fenders and exterior mirror housings for top trim levels ... A cool addition to any color theme. How long it goes without scratches is the second question, but how rich it looks!
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All this arouses the keenest interest of the inhabitants of Sochi and its environs. And even traffic police officers who stop the Stinger only to understand what kind of animal has arrived at the resort. And when they find out the price, they hear about all-wheel drive, and even the Kaliningrad assembly, they somehow smile strangely and let go with a sigh.
Yes, 2,209,900 rubles for a 2.0-liter all-wheel drive version with leather interior, LED headlights, self-locking differential, alloy wheels, heated seats and steering wheel, three-zone climate control, a rear-view camera and other goodies, will charm anyone ... Although our GT -Line for 2,659,900 rubles is not to say that it is prohibitively expensive for this class, and even vice versa.
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The Stinger is bigger and cheaper than the Audi A5 (from 2.4 million) and BMW 4 series (from 2.6 million) and not much smaller than the Audi A7 (from 3.7 million) and BMW 6 series GT (from 3.6 million). ). The starting one is 1,990,000 at all (although the drive will be rear-wheel drive and the “minced meat” is more modest), and soon they promise a deformed version for another 100 thousand cheaper - for 1,890,000. Actually, there is no other strategy for entering the path of a price war on enemy territory could not have been. Kia is desperately dumping, offering a very interesting product. Or not interesting enough?
In the cabin, the trio of "turbo deflectors" is clearly peeped somewhere - and the car was not designed at all in Korea, but in a European design center. The protruding visor of the 8-inch multimedia is also not new. Everything else is authentic, you can't try it on any other GT.
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The advantages include an analog instrument panel hidden in an oval niche with white backlighting and excellent graphics, which fits into any interior solutions. For lovers of "numbers" - a widescreen display between the limbs, with the output, as usual, of the car's settings, as well as navigation. It, in the optional version or the GT-Line configuration, is also duplicated by means of a projection onto the windshield.
The entire set of functions of the on-board computer is scrolled through and changed with buttons from the steering wheel. But their traditional layout has been changed - moved to the right spoke, along with cruise control and speed limiter, while phone and audio controls are on the left. Switching all this wealth to the touch will not work right away.
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In general, the Stinger steering wheel with an electric motor on the rail, creating the effect of a full-fledged hydraulic booster with real, uncontrived stiffness, is frankly good. In the GT-Line configuration, servos for its adjustment in a wide range are also an undeniable advantage.
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Only now I could not get used to the diameter of the grip, truncated from the bottom of the donut, and here's why. The usual size seemed huge against the background of the already mentioned elegant tidy. However, thanks to a very short stroke of 2.3 turns, this did not become a fundamental disadvantage.
Surprise was caused by a tiny plastic "twist" on the massive central tunnel near the automatic transmission selector, which controls Drive Mode - the presets for the interaction of the most important systems. Something more serious, durable and memorable is still asking for its place. But it is much more convenient than the same buttons: there is no need to lower your eyes below the tidy, on which the mode change is indicated, and your fingers will definitely not be mistaken.
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There are five of them on the 2.0-liter car, including, in addition to the usual ECO, Comfort and Sport, two more - Smart, which adjusts the Stinger to your style, and Custom, with individual settings. All of them, as usual, change the ratio of automatic transmission settings, engine, steering and suspension. The latter, by the way, with MacPherson in front and a multi-link rear.
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But the whole thrill of a lift or fastback, which is what the Stinger is considered to be, is in the engine. At idle, the sound of the familiar supercharged Theta II motor is almost normal. A little "cold", but without much anguish, despite the two pairs of exhaust pipes.
Having adjusted the leather-covered chair under me, the scope of the side grabs of which will fit even a driver with a wrestling back, I touch the joystick and smoothly move off. No jerks, only barely noticeable and, as it seemed, too hasty switching of the proprietary 8-speed automatic.
It is not quite ordinary, without the usual “P” position, which is activated by a separate button. It turns out that you can switch to "Parking" from any mode, and it's faster and easier than with the traditional scheme.
It seems that the accelerator is slightly damped, but it allows you to quickly get used to the car. A slightly sharper press, the tachometer needle approaches 2,200 rpm, and this is where the burrows appear, which noticeably intensifies in Sport, and an amazing sound.
To be honest, it is not quite natural, but not “plywood” either. Some of it comes out through the Harman Kardon speakers, enhancing the acoustic effect in the cabin with the windows closed. But you can also enjoy "pure art" by turning off the gain through the menu. Or stand a couple of meters from the rear bumper and ask someone to step on the gas. Believe me, it's impressive!
Frantic thrust from a standstill from a 247-horsepower engine with a curb weight of 1,898 kg, of course, is pointless to demand, but it is honest, and it really is enough for almost all traditional exercises. Still, 353 Nm at 1,400 - 4,000 rpm.
Fast overtaking, whether on the newly built Sochi tracks or when climbing the steepest serpentine to Solokhaul, raises no doubts about power, although its peak is only achievable at 6,200 rpm. At the same time, the passport acceleration of 6.0 s to hundreds seemed to be completely real.
Surprisingly different. Constantly keeping the Stinger in good shape turned out to be completely unnecessary and not very comfortable. Yes, the tone of the exhaust excites and provokes. But only for some seconds of the attack, after which you want silence and comfortable movement.
It will definitely be if you drive on good roads. Despite the energy intensity of the suspension, Stinger rely only on low-profile tires. At the same time, a frank comb is much more to his liking than some rare, but large asphalt waves. And this is where you remember that Gran Turismo is still not a sports car, but a cruiser with sports capabilities.
We have been waiting for the meeting with the Stinger for a very long time and with impatience. After all, this is the first Kia car that was built not for, but in spite of. It has a gambling rear-wheel drive platform, powerful turbo engines and a defiant appearance, and it was not set up by anyone, but by Albert Birman himself, the man who taught how to drive the current BMW M3 and M4. With such a source code, the final product simply could not turn out bad! But how did he turn out in reality, and is it time for the "giants" to start to be afraid of a daring newcomer?
To begin with, let's define the concepts: Kia Stinger is not a sports car at all. And this is not my personal opinion - even the Koreans themselves do not call it a sports car, describing the Stinger with the beautiful term Gran Turismo. And if you play Captain Wikipedia, then this Italian name usually means a comfortable car designed for fast and (this is very important!) Stylish trips over long distances. With passengers and luggage.
It is not a sports car in terms of parameters. Stinger is a large (almost five meters long and 2905 millimeters of wheelbase) and quite heavy (almost two tons in the top version) car. And not even a coupe, as it should be according to the laws of the genre, but a liftback for five. And those three who will be behind will be very comfortable. Plus a 660-liter trunk - like in some kind of crossover.
And as soon as the idea that Kia engineers did not try to build an uncompromising sports car, but consciously developed a convenient, fast, cool looking and interesting driving car settles in the subconscious, then all the rest of the information about the Stinger will be assimilated as easily and pleasantly as a steak from freshly caught tuna with a glass of sake.
The Stinger is built on the latest Hyundai/Kia RWD platform, a shortened version of the very successful Genesis truck. Only instead of the front multi-link, the liftback received MacPherson struts, and the rear five-link moved here almost entirely, with some modifications in terms of elastokinematics. But the springs, shock absorbers and stabilizers of the Stinger have their own settings (thanks to Herr Birman!). All other nodes have also been recalibrated, which, in one form or another, can also be found on other Hyundai/Kia/Genesis models.
The most powerful engine - a 3.3-liter gasoline V6 with two turbines - on the Kia Stinger GT produces 370 horsepower and 510 Nm. The eight-speed automatic is Hyundai/Kia's own development, and downshifts even faster than the ZF transmission used by BMW. And the power steering wheel on the rail is quite “short” - only 2.1 turns from lock to lock, and even with a variable pitch of cutting teeth!
All this is seasoned with an all-wheel drive transmission, and the right one - most of the time the moment is transmitted to the rear axle, and the front wheels are connected at the command of the electronics through a multi-plate clutch. The engineers promised to focus on the rear-wheel drive settings, and ... they did!
The most powerful Stinger GT rides is exciting and even defiant, especially for a car with a Kia logo on the trunk lid! 4.9 seconds of acceleration to "hundreds"? I believe! Under the juicy roar of the high-speed “six”, the liftback accelerates equally deliciously from a place, from city speeds. This 3.3-liter V6 has enough traction anytime, anywhere, so the gearbox often doesn't even downshift, leaving at a moment generously spread over the 1300-4500 rpm segment. The short steering wheel is filled with thick force and becomes very tight in sport mode, but the large and not too light car reacts quickly and unequivocally to its commands.
But the main thing is that you can and want to drive fast on the Stinger GT! The steering balance is very neutral - at the beginning of the maneuver, the liftback rests lightly on the outer wheel, and then recklessly dives inward under the release of gas. Under traction, it is screwed into turns even more provocatively - if there were snow or ice under the wheels, it would be possible to distribute it sideways on the Stinger no worse than on a BMW E36 with a self-block!
Yes, “it would be possible” - if the Kia Stinger GT had the stabilization system turned off.
Strange as it may sound, but on the sports car Kia itself, the stabilization system is not completely turned off. Partially turn off the traction control system - please, and if you hold the same button pressed longer, then an inscription will appear on the on-board computer screen stating that you, it seems, were left alone with the car, but ... But this inscription is cunning - having felt the development of a skid ( or in response to any corrective action by the steering wheel), the electronics will step in and stop any hooliganism in the bud. And this is the conscious position of the Russian office of Kia.
Causes? We never got a clear answer. “We believe that Russian clients do not need such a regime.” How so? In Europe, the Stinger has a Sport + mode, in which all electronic assistants are completely turned off, and instead we have a Custom mode, in which the driver can adjust the steering wheel, suspension, exhaust volume (there are two levels of “help” from the audio system at once) and the responsiveness of the accelerator with the gearbox, but will not be able to turn off the "stub". And what about the winter entertainment in the Crocus parking lot? It turns out that Birman tried in vain?
Not in vain - if you forget about hooligan manners and drive the Stinger really quickly and accurately, then this big car will enthusiastically join the process. The electronics allow the liftback to slip a little when entering and exiting corners, adding emotions to the dialogue between the driver and the car, and the electronically controlled suspension on the GT version perfectly controls the body on difficult Sochi serpentines, without bringing vertical acceleration peaks to discomfort. In the city, the suspension can be relaxed by turning on the Comfort mode, and then the Stinger GT will float very softly, almost not paying attention to microrelief and working out bumps tightly even on its low-profile 19-inch wheels.
And here I must confess that our test on the roads of the Black Sea coast took place on ... Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 winter tires, which become too soft in positive temperatures. This is good for comfort, but in fact, winter tires perform lousy in such conditions. That's why you won't find anything about traction in this text, about the effectiveness of the mighty four-piston Brembo brakes, the cleanliness of the steering wheel and the sharpness of reactions. It was just that the Stinger was definitely not as expressive as it was capable of driving on a soft Velcro - it was noticeable even at the border of the ABS operation, which began to chirp on a wet road in response to any sharp pressing of the brake pedal.
But how many buyers in general will choose the “top-end” Stinger GT with a 370-horsepower engine and evil Brembo brakes, for which they ask for 3.2 million rubles? The Russian representative office believes that their share will be significant, but not too high. Few will be those who decide to buy a basic liftback with rear-wheel drive (and with a disk self-block in the back!) And a 247-horsepower two-liter turbo engine, which is installed on the Optima GT model. Therefore, the most affordable version will appear at dealers later than the rest - closer to May.
The main demand will be for two-liter turbo-liftbacks with all-wheel drive. And if you order such a car with the GT Line package, then it will be possible to distinguish it from the six-cylinder Stinger GT only by the brakes. And also in terms of dynamics: two-liter cars with all-wheel drive go from 0-100 km / h in six seconds. And this difference is very noticeable, especially on a mountain road. Where the 370-horsepower Stinger accelerates effortlessly, the 2.0-turbo machine forces you to push harder on the right pedal, forcing the automatic to juggle gears for dynamic acceleration.
But it is worth returning to the city crowd, and the return of the two-liter engine seems to be sufficient. This Stinger can easily start from traffic lights and accelerate to overtake on suburban highways, and only the voice of the four-cylinder engine lacks sporty notes. And the optional system for amplifying the sound of the motor through the speakers works rudely, so after playing for a couple of days you turn it off and never turn it back on.
Another important difference between two-liter cars and the GT version is the passive suspension, and even adapted to the Russian market. Usually, "adaptation" sounds like a sentence to the work of developers invested in chassis settings, but the Stinger was lucky in this sense. Even though the ground clearance has been increased by 2 centimeters (150 millimeters for the 2.0 versus 130 millimeters for the 3.3 version) and the recalibrated shock absorbers, the base liftback rides very, very nicely. Yes, slightly stiffer than the top Stinger GT in Comfort mode, but softer than the same GT in sport mode. The passive suspension collects small things a little more, but at the same time, in an adult way, it is elastic and dense on large irregularities. And only on difficult terrain does it lack a bit of rebound travel, which is expressed in characteristic blows to an unloaded body.
But in Russia there will also be a 197-strong version of the Stinger! It was invented at the last moment - because of the growth of import excises on cars with engines more powerful than 200 horsepower. On the other hand, derated cars will be 100 thousand cheaper than 247-strong ones in the same trim levels. It turns out that the simplest rear-wheel drive Kia Stinger will cost the buyer only 1.889 million rubles, and it will not be a “drum edition”, but a car with 18-inch wheels, rear-wheel drive, keyless entry, three-zone climate control, electric seats with eco-leather trim, a rear-view camera and even a navigation system with a 7-inch display!
For all-wheel drive (as well as LED headlights, natural leather trim and wireless charging), you will have to pay 220 thousand, for the Prestige version with a decent set of options - another 220. The most equipped Stinger with a 2.0 engine in the GT Line configuration will cost 2.659 million rubles. More expensive - only the 370-horsepower Stinger GT with Brembo brakes, adaptive LED light, electronically controlled suspension, adjustable lateral seat support and a set of "safe" options, which costs 3.229 million rubles. A lot of?
If we talk about two-liter versions, then the Kia Stinger will be on average 300-400 thousand cheaper than similarly equipped "Germans" - namely, with them the newcomer is going to kill himself. The top-end Stinger GT, taking into account the configuration, will also cost significantly less than competitors comparable in power and dynamics: a 326-horsepower BMW 340i xDrive sedan in similar equipment will cost about 4 million rubles, a Mercedes-AMG C 43 4Matic in the Special Series (367 hp). pp.) - at 3.75 million, and the Audi S5 Sportback with a 354-horsepower V6 in Russia generally costs from 4.17 million rubles.
Yes, the Stinger is not yet up to the big name rivals in the details. Its interior lacks sophistication and premium feel, and its driving habits lack polish and emotion, but the guys from Korea seem to have too good teachers. And the fact that they immediately made a car that got up to the attack distance of the celestials of the class cannot cause anything but admiration and anticipation of future battles. /m
For the test Kia Stinger, we got a 370-horsepower GT performance, he clearly liked the drift. Then we went to Kazan and took another 247-horsepower Stinger. Now you can do a full review.
Please vote after reading the Kia Stinger test, move the MPS Index cursor on the scale that we offer at the beginning and at the end of the article.
Kia Stinger is Korea's first affordable sports car
When the Koreans first showed the Stinger concept car, everyone gasped at its beauty, but few believed that such a car could make it to the series. Why is he Kia? They sell out better than hot cakes, and the heated hatchback, despite very attractive prices and the almost complete absence of competition, is barely sold.
Stinger's task is to go down in history, stand out from the stream and make new buyers take a closer look at the Korean brand.
The Kia Stinger is a product of Hyundai-Kia's Performance Vehicle Development Department. Albert Biermann, the head of this division, moved to the Koreans from BMW in 2014. The design was developed by the notorious Peter Schreyer, a former employee of the VW Group.
The Stinger is fast, flashy and doesn't look like a KIA at all. Perhaps this is the first car of the Korean brand, with such a catchy appearance.
There is an abundance of unusual elements in the exterior. Aggressive front bumper, air ducts on the hood, gills on the front fenders, diffuser on the rear bumper. But all this flamboyance has its downside. It is possible that very quickly this artsy appearance will get tired and outdated. But now the car looks very interesting. Everyone turns around and looks at him with great curiosity. It is strange that the doors are not made without frames, as is usually the case with German competitors. Doors without frames give a special exclusivity and charm to the car. However, even with ordinary doors, Stinger has enough personality.
The swift silhouette, the taillights that are strongly set on the sidewalls and the bright colors do their job. He has common details that make him related to Rio and Optima, but he wants to turn around after him.
The Kia Stinger is built on the Genesis rear-wheel drive platform, upgraded for a mid-size sedan. It uses the latest technologies and developments of KIA. Accordingly, all the bells and whistles in appearance are not props, but real aerodynamic elements. The gills and air ducts really work and allow you to improve the streamlining of the car.
The drag coefficient is 0.3. On the one hand, this figure is not a record, but on the other hand, it is a good indicator in terms of aerodynamics. Front and rear uses modern LED optics. True, the front LEDs are an option. The most basic versions use halogen headlights. The car looks unusual and interesting, although outwardly it has incorporated many design solutions from other brands of cars.
The rear end is stylistically reminiscent of Maserati.
Ground clearance in the version with a 3.3-liter engine is 130 mm, and in the version with a 2-liter engine 150 mm. Unlike the Genesis, a different suspension is used here. It's MacPherson instead of double wishbones. The developers claim that this did not stop the car from being set up so that it handles no worse. The Stinger was tuned on the race track. That is, it was finalized and completed in order to be used in fairly harsh conditions.
The 3.3 liter 370 hp version has a Brembo brake system with red brake calipers. 4 piston front, 2 piston rear. Together with 18-19 inch wheels, the appearance looks very juicy.
In the cabin, just like in everything else, the Koreans took all the best from what is on the market. The central air ducts repeat the Mercedes E-class, the gear selector, the steering wheel, beveled downwards, the instruments refer to Audi. Real aluminum and only high-quality materials are used everywhere. It's very, very hard to get angry. Even the air ducts for the rear passengers are worked out and look great. Maybe a little bit lacking in design, its own style and branded features. Too many empty, aluminum zones. But, anyway, you will not find such a level of elaboration of details for such money anywhere else.
The truncated steering wheel from the Optima looks good, but it feels rustic to the touch. Finishing materials are good, but after such a look you expect more. But the chairs pleased. Optimal profile and a huge range of adjustment of the side support rollers. They will perfectly fix both a sumo wrestler and a thin teenager.
The instrument panel is well read. Good quality on-board computer screen, white numbers, red arrows. Everything works clearly and clearly. Nice steering wheel, which in the top GT version can be trimmed with Nappa leather.
If you take the Germans, then for this money you get just a powerful engine. There will be significantly fewer options than KIA offers.
In multimedia, the Stinger loses out to its German competitors. Firstly, the monitor does not have a very high resolution, and secondly, there is a maximum of an 8-inch screen, and in the basic versions it is 7-inch. It looks outdated, convenience and ergonomics are excellent, although everything works quite quickly. This is the multimedia we already know from the latest Hyundai and Kia models. From the point of view of a car that claims to be super premium, multimedia is a little behind.
Under the center console there is a glove compartment with USB and wireless charging. The gear selector is very nicely made, trimmed with leather and aluminum. Near the gear selector there is a washer for switching modes of the Drive Mode chassis. Smart mode - the car itself adapts to the driving style of the driver. Eco - respectively, economical. Comfort - standard, Sport-mode and Custom, where you can configure the car's systems for yourself.
The stabilization system can be turned off with a separate button. This happens in two stages: the first press is to turn off the traction control system, pressing and holding again is to turn off the stabilization system.
We also sat in the back, about this in detail on the video.
Kia has never made such fast cars before. The 3.3-liter gasoline Stinger, with all-wheel drive, accelerates to hundreds in 4.9 seconds, which is very fast for a KIA. Two-liter versions have two boost versions 197 and 247 hp. Passport acceleration: 8.9 and 7.1 seconds to 100 km / h, respectively. On all-wheel drive, acceleration is faster by 1 second. In Europe, diesel modifications are also offered. However, they will not be delivered to Russia.
The Koreans developed the gearbox themselves. As well as the all-wheel drive system, with permanent rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive.
In Moscow, we took a Kia Stinger in the top GT version. With a 3.3-liter 370-horsepower turbo four-wheel drive, adjustable damping and standard European suspension with a ground clearance of 130 mm. This is 2 cm below the 2-liter cars, which are raised especially for Russia.
If you figure it out, it becomes clear where all these powerful engines come from. These motors are on the older Quoris and Genesis models. From there, the Stinger borrowed a projection on the windshield, a security system and an adaptive suspension, available only in the 3.3-liter version. But there are details that are not found anywhere else. On those versions that we took in Moscow and Kazan (GT and GT-Line) there are double windows, it is very quiet in the cabin.
KIA-Stinger with a 3.3-liter 370-horsepower turbo engine.
Test Kia Stinger 370-horsepower
Already in the city, Kia Stinger immediately shows himself to be a real fighter. Yes, it is heavy, two tons of curb weight cannot be hidden, but how low and wide this weight is spread. The weighty steering wheel insists that the turns take a good turn. Not for the sake of haste, but to feel how far forward the front wheels are and how quickly the chassis works.
Well, most importantly, what the Stinger seriously lacks is the right sound of the engine. Its level can be adjusted in the settings menu, but in any case it remains unimpressive for such dynamics and appearance.
In a closed area where you can give free rein to all 370 horses, the Kia Stinger starts great from a place.
The power unit has a starting mode, when the engine spins up to 2000 rpm and then shoots very convincingly from a place. The first 100 km / h on the Kia Stinger speedometer is gaining in 5.15 seconds. Let's add another 1-2 tens to the error and still get a very good result, which is not so far from the declared 4.9 s. Fill it with the 98th or 100th and the Stinger will get even closer to the cherished 5 s. And besides, we must not forget about turbocharging and the possibility of a relatively budget chip tuning.
But enough racing in a straight line. ESP-off and let's go, but not alone, but under strict guidance Gennady Broslavsky, founder of the Audi Quattro school and Russian Rally Champion. This man knows a lot about sideways distribution. In winter, colleagues complained about the inability to blame the Stinger sideways. And this is a problem for ice skating. But on the pavement, it is barely noticeable. The Kia Stinger is great at letting the rear axle slide, but ESP steps in if the front wheels lose control of the road. From the point of view of sports driving, this is very correct. Demolition is always a waste of time and a lack of ability to drive. Instead of a spectacular but crazy ride, the Stinger offers its driver a more subtle and thoughtful approach.
With the right choice of speed at the entrance to the turn and the presence of a hook under the front wheels, the Kia driver can effectively sweep the stern up to the complete splitting of the rear wheels into atoms, but at the same time, the electronics can cool the ardor of the novice driver.
Someone will say, let's leave everything at the mercy of evolution, and let only those Stingers survive that got the right drivers, and let all the teapots continue to fly to Rio and be right. But in the case of the $3 million GT, this path is probably not very justified. If you want to carefree drift - take the basic version with rear-wheel drive, which, by the way, has a differential lock and enjoy full control, and Gran Turismo is already a transition to a fundamentally different level.
For quite a long time on the site, we were looking forward to the moment when the excellent 8-speed automatic would overheat, but this did not happen. The box does not allow more than three starts from the "launch" in a row, but you can drift on it for a very long time. However, in the case of a race on the track, carefully monitor the condition of the brakes. On the GT, they're beefed up with 4-piston calipers up front, but there's no margin for efficiency. In hard decelerations, the pedal drops quite low, and the ABS kicks in a little sooner than you'd expect.
Testa Kia Stinger 247 hp
In Kazan, we took the GT-Line version with a two-liter 247-horsepower engine, which showed an average fuel consumption of 15-16 liters per hundred.
Launch control is available for the first time on Kia. But still, the box is not entirely honest and changes gears itself when it reaches the red zone, even in sport mode. There is a slight delay in handling, although the car dives willingly into corners and accelerates well. Still, the Germans return and manufacturability of cars are at a slightly higher level. They make cars that have less horsepower but better dynamics. The sound of the exhaust is not loud, which is probably why it is duplicated through the speakers into the cabin, which adds to the feeling of a dynamic car. The Gt-line and GT versions feature a premium 15-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system.
I liked the Kia Stinger - even in my German-oriented eyes, it looks competitive, the price tag looks convincing, which many in our time have begun to pay attention to.
Price overview:
Price list forKia Stinger starts from a value of 1.93 million rubles - for this money they offerrear wheel drivecar with a two-literturbo enginecapacity 197hp. in the initial configurationComfort With“ warm” options, cruise control,three-zoneclimate control and basic electronic assistants. For a more powerful 247-horsepower engine, you will have to pay 100 thousand rubles. LED front optics and leather interior are only available inall-wheel driveversion, which is 20 more expensive than the basic configuration0 thousand and is estimated at 2.14 million rubles.The most expensive two-literStinger versionsGT— linewill cost almost 2.7 million rubles, and the buyer will receive a full setkt external sports signs and electronic assistants.
Version from370- strongV6 means max.equipment and is traded in the price range~ 3.3 million rubles. The most powerfulKiathrows down the gauntlet to 326-strongbmw 4 40 i xDriveGran coupe ( from3.45 million) and 300 — strongJaguar XE300 Sport ( from 3.6 million rubles). For more popular in Russia two-literStingermore competitors -among them is a colleague in the concern,Genesis G70 with similar motors in 197hp. and 247hp. (from 1.95 - 3 million rubles),Audi A5 sportback (190 hp. / 249 hp., from 2.4 million - 2.8 million),Infiniti Q50 ( 211 hp. / 405 hp., from 2 million - 3.2 million). You will have to compete for the wallet of buyers with less suitable in terms of characteristics, but similar in price and very popular in the marketMercedes— Benz C— class (from 2.4 million),Audi A4 (from 2 million),bmw 3- series ( from 1.9 million).
Video test Kia Stinger below, specifications at the end of the article.
KIA STINGER
Specifications| COMMON DATA | 2.0t | 3.3t |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions, mm: length / width / height / base | 4830 / 1870 / 1400 / 2905 | 4830 / 1870 / 1400 / 2905 |
| track front / rear | 1596 / 1619 | 1596 / 1619 |
| Trunk volume, l | 406 / 1158 | 406 / 1158 |
| Turning radius, m | 5,85 | 5,85 |
| Curb / gross weight, kg | 1898 / 2250 | 1971/ 2,325 |
| Acceleration time 0 - 100 km/h, s | 6,0 | 4,9 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 240 | 270 |
| Fuel / fuel reserve, l | A95/60 | A95/60 |
| Fuel consumption: urban / extra-urban / combined cycle, l / 100 km | 12,7 / 7,2 / 9,2 | 15,4 / 7,9 / 10,6 |
| ENGINE | ||
| Location | Front lengthwise | Front lengthwise |
| Configuration / number of valves | R4 / 16 | V6/24 |
| Working volume, cu. cm | 1998 | 3342 |
| Compression ratio | 10,0 | 10,0 |
| Power, kW / hp | 182 / 247 at 6200 rpm. | 272 / 370 at 6000 rpm. |
| Torque, Nm | 353 at 1400 - 4000 rpm. | 510 at 1300 - 4500 rpm. |
| TRANSMISSION | ||
| Type | all-wheel drive | all-wheel drive |
| Transmission | A8 | A8 |
| Gear ratios: I / II / III / IV / V / VI / VII / VIII / z.x. | 3,964 / 2,468 / 1,610 / 1,176 /1,000 / 0,832 / 0,652 / 0,565 / 2,273 | 3,665 / 2,396 / 1,610 / 1,190 / 1,000 / 0,826 / 0,643 / 0,565 / 2,273 |
| main gear | 3,727 |
Among the automotive novelties of the 2018 model year, the new 2018 Kia Stinger stands out with a bright stroke in the overall picture. The car turned out to be very stylish, catchy and not trivial.
new sports Kia Stinger 2018
It is also worth noting that Kia is one of those few manufacturers who still have a conscience and set the price bar for their car according to its equipment (while most companies greatly inflate the cost of their manufactured “iron horses”). So, it’s worth getting to know the new Stinger model in Russia from an already established Korean company.
As they say, they are greeted by clothes. And this very “clothes” of the Kia Stinger is more than worthy. The general direction of the appearance of the new model is sporty in the fastback body and it is worth noting that the car is not so frailly tuned.
The front part is equipped with a stylish bumper with separated radiator and false radiator grilles, as well as two air intakes at the edges, which makes the Stinger very catchy. It will be really problematic not to look back at such a car on the street. The headlights of the car with LED lamps have an evil "squint", which successfully complements the evil and daring appearance of the car. The hood is also made according to all the canons of tuning - it has a recess in the form of an inverted trapezoid, at the corners of the base of which a stylish perforation is made.
The back of the Kia Stinger is no less stylish, sporty and daring: a small spoiler finishes the hood cover. Under it, narrowed rear lights “flock” into a single line from the edges to the center. The rear bumper is flanked by a pair of twin tailpipes with chrome trim. And the bumper itself has stylish cuts along the edges, which add more tuning to the car, the grille and black metal trim that fit well into the overall picture of the style.
From the side, the Kia Stinger looks very bombastic and gets 10/10, as, indeed, from other angles. First of all, the eye is attracted by stylish wheels, the size of which can be 18 or 19 inches. The lower part of both doors is distinguished by a wide air duct located just behind the front wing. It is also worth noting that carbon fiber is used in the exterior trim of the Kia Stinger (because of its aerodynamic characteristics), which immediately favorably emphasizes the status of the novelty from two sides: firstly, this is car tuning, which they did not skimp on both ideas and and on materials, and, secondly, the correspondence of the nature and capabilities of the new model to its external appearance.
The car is made in the form of a fastback, which suits him very well. The Korean company has created a truly outstanding look for their new model.
And now, perhaps, you can move inside the auto novelty, finding out whether its contents correspond to the “clothes” that caught your eye initially. At the moment when you find yourself in the cabin of the new Kia Stinger, you understand that this is not even a car, it's just some kind of spaceship. At the beginning of the story, there was a note that many manufacturers deliberately inflate the cost of a car, the price of which ultimately does not match the equipment. Kia, on the other hand, has a completely different policy - the manufacturing company "stuffs" its offspring with exactly the amount of functions, options and electronics that will "fit" in its cost.
Salon Kia Stinger GT 2018
Thus, once inside the Kia Stinger, you do not want to get out - the car is made boldly on the outside and comfortable - inside. Perforated leather of excellent quality is used for interior trim of the new model. Comfort at any time of the year will create a three-zone climate control. The car is equipped with a modern audio system, the work of which will help to appreciate the sound achieved by playing six speakers. And the cherry on this cake will be a 7-inch display with excellent work quality, fast response to touch and rich colors. But owners of the maximum configuration will be able to be content with much more - a Harman / Kardon audio system with 15 speakers, located in the car.
Interior trim materials: mainly leather and soft plastic, the manufacturer tried to make the interior of the car not only comfortable, but cozy, and indeed, when you sit inside the Kia Stinger, you just want to go, no matter where, you want to drive this car endlessly. And this is worth talking about separately.
The behavior of the new Kia Stinger while driving
The combination of its design, interior and equipment, as well as the quality of the materials used, Kia Stinger makes you want to stay behind the wheel as long as possible. Therefore, it is worth learning in more detail about how the car behaves on the road, and what to expect from its promising appearance and equipment in reality.
The main task of the Korean automobile company was to show that Kia is no longer the brand that was known to the world, say, five years ago. Now these are completely new cars that have taken a significant step forward. As for the sensations while driving, the first thing that immediately becomes noticeable immediately after the start is silence. The Kia Stinger has impeccable noise isolation, which allows you to drown out all extraneous sounds and enjoy only the roar of the engine of a new sports car.
The whole management style of this model can be characterized by only one word - "Easy!". Driving this car is easy to accelerate, easy to brake, easy to drive, easy to control the situation on the road, easy to park, easy to endure bad weather on the road, but everything is easy!
The Kia Stinger is packed with features and options that make life on the road a lot easier. For example, it has a pedestrian recognition system that has the right to turn on emergency braking. Thus, even if the driver gapes and does not notice a person on the road, the car will avoid an incident. The driver fatigue monitoring system will monitor the state of the person behind the wheel and make sure that he does not fall asleep on the road. In the maximum configuration, the function of projecting information from the dashboard onto the windshield with the ability to adjust the height of their display on the latter will be available. It’s not worth stuttering about various systems of exchange rate stability and blind spot control at all - they are already in the car from the embryo. The car is simply created for admiration!
Engine options and prices for Kia Stinger
For the Russian market, the Korean company offers only two gasoline engines with a volume of 2 and 3.3 liters - we should not expect a diesel power unit. In general, the cars will be equipped with 2-liter engines with 247 hp. and 3.3-liter engines with 370 "horses". But especially for Russia, Kia has developed another version of the power unit - a 2-liter 197-horsepower engine.
The cost of the new model will start from 1,899,900 rubles in the Comfort package (with engine: 2 l / 197 hp). For the most sophisticated equipment - GT - you will have to pay 3,229,900 rubles. In general, it is worth saying that the car is worth more than its price, but the Koreans are now offering a new model cheaper than their competitors: the Japanese or Germans. But at the same time, the quality of the car is in no way inferior to the main leaders in this class.
| Equipment | Price | Engine | Box | Drive unit |
| Comfort 2.0 Turbo | 1 899 900 | 2.0, gasoline, 197 hp | 8 art. AKP | Rear |
| Comfort 2.0 Turbo | 1 999 900 | 2.0, gasoline, 247 hp | 8 art. AKP | Rear |
| Luxe 2.0 Turbo | 2 109 900 | 2.0, gasoline, 197 hp | 8 art. AKP | Full |
| Luxe 2.0 Turbo | 2 209 900 | 2.0, gasoline, 247 hp | 8 art. AKP | Full |
| Prestige 2.0 Turbo | 2 329 900 | 2.0, gasoline, 197 hp | 8 art. AKP | Rear |
| Prestige 2.0 Turbo | 2 429 900 | 2.0, gasoline, 247 hp | 8 art. AKP | Full |
| GT Line 2.0 Turbo | 2 659 900 | 2.0, gasoline, 247 hp | 8 art. AKP | Full |
| GT 3.3 Turbo | 3 229 900 | 3.3, gasoline, 370 hp | 8 art. AKP | Full |
Video test drive Kia Stinger 2018 in Russia
Photo bonus Kia Stinger:
Voicing this thesis, it is worthwhile to understand that you risk being mortally beaten by supporters of the traditional German premium or strangled in the arms of fans of the Korean auto industry. So polar opinions go about this car.
For the first Stinger - an upstart who dared to encroach on the foundations that have been formed for decades. For the second, this sports car is the most obvious manifestation of the “Korean automobile miracle” that happened before our eyes, which was supposed to happen any day, and now it happened. Has it happened? "RG" took the Kia Stinger for a test to see if there was a miracle.
Exterior
In terms of design, it certainly was. It is impossible to walk past the Stinger (especially in the signature contrasting blue color) and not turn around after it. The car turned out to be harmonious, elegant, swift and, most importantly, original. This is no longer a set of quotes from the textbook of the style of the Old World (or New), but a completely integral and smelling of novelty image. The Stinger is unmistakably recognizable as a Kia. Like a very, very angry and dangerous Kia. And, of course, that's good.
The front is made in a changeable, flexible Asian style. Bizarrely shaped headlights, a signature radiator grille, decorative gills ... Yes, the Stinger's turn signals are made in the form of faceted LEDs, and BMW tested this solution on the previous "five" and 5 GT, but due to the general dissimilarity of the new Kia to the "Germans" to find fault with such small details - at least tediousness.
The “stern” of the Korean sports car, on the contrary, is emphatically European. Or rather, Italian. Here you can see echoes of the beautiful Maserati GT coupe and older Alfa Romeo models. Special chic - smooth, straight and clean lines extending from the rear optics (fully LED) to the wings of the Stinger. However, a couple of my comrades categorically disagreed with me, predicted that many people would refuse to buy the Stinger precisely because of them, and generally contemptuously called them reflectors.
Interior
The interior design of the Stinger, alas, does not cause such enthusiasm as the exterior. Yes, the interior is not bad, but there are a lot of borrowings. Round deflectors of the air conditioning system in the form of aircraft turbines are such a naive reference to Mercedes-Benz that they are taken aback. The knob of the electronic selector of the 8-speed automatic transmission of a bizarre alien shape is a clear hello to the new generation of the flagship Lexus LS. Beautiful, strict and informative devices are similar to those that were installed on the Audi of the pre-virtual period.
The speakers of a very good optional Harman / Kardon audio system are taken away by laser-perforated aluminum overlays. These speakers with bizarre patterns of small dots look expensive and stylish. I will not include this item in the list of borrowings, since it is impossible to determine a single author of the idea. Rather, it is an attempt (successful) to join the general trend.
However, there are many in the interior of the Stinger and its own developments. The climate control keys and knobs, the font on the buttons, the steering wheel, the seats, the central display and its graphics, and the usual, physical "automatic" lever in the configurations are simpler - the elements are not peeped, but self-designed, and at the same time worthy.
The only serious complaint about the interior is the central part of the steering wheel, finished with the cheapest, rough, booming and tactilely unpleasant plastic. How Kia managed to use it in the production of a part that a person touches every day and constantly is a mystery, given the overall high quality of the materials.
Albert Biermann, who moved to the Korean concern from the position of vice president of BMW M, a division engaged in the production of “charged” Bavarians, was engaged in tuning the driving performance of the Kia Stinger. The final refinement of the chassis took place on the Nurburgring ring. Serious application for driver's success.
And the Stinger "steers" really thoroughbred. Recklessly screwed into turns, and the "limit" of the car is far beyond the limit of civilian speeds. At the same time, when transferring the car to the sport mode, the Stinger strives to “hand out sideways” even when starting from a traffic light! Bavarian style? Maybe. However, out of habit, the car can scare you.
In the test car, under the hood was a top-end V6 with a volume of 3.3 liters and a capacity of 370 "horses". According to the passport, such a car exchanges the first 100 km / h in 4.9 seconds, which is not at all shameful by any standards. Stinger with this engine is damn fast, but without a spark. I put the blame for the lack of adrenaline during acceleration on the “automatic”, configured very herbivorously. You will not get a kick in the back even in kickdown mode. Instead, there is a smooth pickup and an imperceptible change in indicators on the speedometer.
In addition to the top-end configuration with a 370-horsepower engine, Stinger versions with 197-horsepower engines are available to Russians. With. and 247 l. With. respectively.
Prices range from 1.8 to 3.2 million rubles.
Despite all the Koreans' claims to a full-fledged place on the automotive Olympus and an attempt to impose equal competition on the Germans, Stinger, most likely, is not destined to become a direct rival to Audi and BMW. It's more likely that the traditionally Big Three clientele that can afford a German car will stay with the Big Three, and the sporty Kia will become Korea's most coveted car.
