Summarize

Would anyone ever have guessed that a once little-known South Korean automaker KIA that built its first little Brisa as recently as 1973, would today offer a machine as stunning as this Stinger 3.3T GT?

Car cognoscenti will tell you that the acronym ‘GT’ comes from the Italian ‘Granturismo’ design connotation … a performance-come-luxury 2+2 that should star on high-speed long-distance driving.

And therein lies the rub! 

Yes – Stinger delivers on true full-blooded heights of a Granturismo, epitomised by concept-like design in a superb Coke bottle shape that’s graced the finest cars ever built – from Ferrari’s 250 GTO to the Dodge Charger. Stinger’s steeply slanted windshield and fastback silhouette endow it with truly classic GT proportions.

But it doesn’t end there. 

Stinger also offers true grand tourer handling, genuine Gran Turismo poise and pukka GT pace – see, there’s even more good news when it comes to performance. Stinger’s 275kW biturbo 3.3-litre V6 sees to it that this slick Korean underdog shapes very well, in at a claimed 4.9 seconds in the telltale 0-100km/h stakes – slap bang in the middle of hallowed territory so well ring fenced by that trio of Germans that have had this neck of the woods all to themselves for way too long now.  

Not bad for an interloper, hey?

That’s thanks in part to a Stinger GT development programme that included testing on the Nurburgring Nordschleife to instil handling pedigree like rear wheelspin and slick gearchanges on launch, followed by energetic drifting easily managed and maintained by experienced drivers in Sport+ mode.

The sporty flat-bottom steering wheel with controls for audio and screen display and cruise control is of the variable ratio variety to offer quick response and spirited feel at lower speeds and more stable performance at headier velocities. The variable ratio power steering has its electric motor mounted directly to the rack also, to improve steering response and reduce unwanted vibration through the steering column.  

Stinger GT’s MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspension provides optimal feedback and a rear-wheel-drive arrangement to offer the necessary come-on with light and comfortable ride and damping over bumps and humps, becoming a trite firmer in Sport mode.

Perhaps the jewel in Stinger GT’s crown, its all-aluminium direct petrol injection biturbo V6 has already earned a prestigious global 2018 Wards 10 Best Engines award, walking away with a win in its most competitive class. 

Wards scored the Stinger V6 highly on power, torque, noise attenuation and fuel economy through the application of latest technology versus all rivals.

Delivering a heady 275kW and 510Nm torque churned out at a low 1300rpm, the V6 is smooth, malleable and compliant and lights up quickly and strongly when the accelerator is depressed, according to Ward’s expert panel.

Packing cam-torque-actuated mid-lock continuously variable valve-timing for quicker engine response; sodium-filled valves better dissipate heat for better spark-advance performance and improved fuel economy.

Another technical advance sees the V6 mill’s single-scroll turbochargers direct-mounted to an exhaust manifold on each cylinder head for optimal packaging and to allow the catalytic converter to heat up faster and reduce cold-start emissions.

The turbos are also mounted to the outside rather than inside the V to better access cooler air, while boost is controlled by electronic wastegates before charge air is intercooled for moderate operating temperatures.

Gear changing is ably managed by a slick-changing 8-speed automatic well suited to this fast and capable tourer, while Stinger’s armoury incorporates a wide array of technology, convenience and safety features to satisfy the most discerning owners’ needs. 

That includes front and rear park distance control, an integrated reverse camera linked to the 8-inch colour screen and around view monitoring for parking. Further convenience is added by an electric parking brake with auto hold and hill-start assist.

On the road you can count on cruise control including blind spot detection while electronic stability control and anti-lock braking allow for a sportier and more spirited driving feel, while there are seven airbags and ISOFIX child seat anchors. 

Also named among Ward’s 10 Best Interiors for 2018, Stinger GT is supremely equipped with everything from a full infotainment package to a 406-litre boot with a height pre-set electronically-operated bootlid and rear seats that can be folded flat for increased luggage capacity. 

Backed by KIA’s industry-leading 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, a 5-year/90 000km maintenance as well as five years’ worth of roadside assistance, the KIA Stinger GT retails for a mouthwatering R859K. 

In other words, the 275kW Stinger GT well undercuts and matches or overpowers the R995K 287kW Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe; the R898K 240kW BMW 440i Gran Coupe and  Audi’s R936K 260kW S5 Coupe Quattro too.

Maybe you should stop off at that Kia dealership after all, next time you’re shopping for an executive sports-coupe?