The Kia Stinger was arguably the coolest vehicle to emerge from the South Korean automaker, and ever since it ended production, there have been rumors of its return. A new report from Autocar claims that Kia is considering bringing the Stinger back, this time as an all-electric halo vehicle to sit atop the company’s lineup.
“That kind of model is under study,” said Kia President Ho-sung Song in reference to a potential Stinger halo model. “What kind of model can help build the brand? This is what we are now studying.”
Though being “under study” is far from an outright confirmation of the Stinger’s return, there are many signs pointing to a potential comeback. In fact, the only thing stopping Kia from getting a new electric halo model (in our opinion) would be the parent company, Hyundai Motor Company, hogging the good platforms for the Hyundai brand.
Building A New Stinger
At the time it was discontinued, the Stinger sports sedan was available with either a 300-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder or a 365-hp twin-turbo V6 in the GT model. Those numbers were competitive with a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe at a far lower cost, but they’d be less impressive for a heavy EV. The formula to build an electric Stinger would be so simple: use the E-GMP platform. If you aren’t a Hyundai Motor Group aficionado, E-GMP is the name given to the electric architecture that underpins the Kia EV6, the three-row EV9 SUV, and Hyundai’s Ioniq range, which includes the brilliant and high-powered Ioniq 5 N.
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The Ioniq 5 N, for reference, produces a whopping 601 horsepower (and up to 641 hp in short bursts) from two electric motors with the unique ability to simulate gear shifts and engine noise. Putting such a drivetrain into a future Kia sedan yields the potential to create something far more special than the original Stinger. With that much power, the Stinger could rival a BMW M5 on performance, not just a run-of-the-mill 4 Series. We know Hyundai is already working on a high-performance Ioniq 6 N, so we know the powertrain fits in a sedan. The only question is whether Hyundai will let its sister company have access to the N technology. Thankfully, Hyundai does not appear to be selfish.
Low-Cost EVs
While speaking to Song at the European launch of the Kia EV3, Autocar also asked about EVs at the lower end of the pricing spectrum. Song said replacing the Picanto (a tiny city car) was the “next, next target” to bring down EV costs. Kia would want an electric Picanto replacement to be priced under €20,000 (around $22,000), but this would not be possible until the end of the decade. In the meantime, Kia is working to pull down EV prices in €5,000 (around $5,500) increments.
The EV3, which is confirmed for the American market (but is yet to be priced), is priced well below the EV6, and the upcoming 2026 EV2 should cost less than €30,000 (around $33,000). Building a vehicle at the $20,000 price point is “very difficult [and] very challenging,” Song said, especially making it with an electric powertrain, but Kia is working hard to achieve it without forgetting that many buyers want a stylish sedan with standout handling too.
Source:
Autocar
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