Kia Stinger 3.3 GT Review
A Wicked Stinger

I have some stinging words about this car (no pun intended), but I shall reserve them for later in the review…

KIA, the Korean manufacturer, and maker of things sensible have been on a roll of late. With the likes of designer Peter Schreyer (Audi TT and Volkswagen New Beetle fame) coming on-board, contributed to what is now known as the “Tiger Nose”, which gave their cars their distinctive identity.

In a leap forward, KIA made a bold decision to field the Stinger, something so un-KIA-like, that it set the world talking…. And for very good reason!

The Stinger gets engineering expertise from the likes of Albert Biermann, formally Vice President of BMW’s M division, and faced miles of gruelling tests at the infamous Nürburgring circuit in Germany.

One cannot deny that the GT-styled car is definitely a head-turner. With its stretched-out wheelbase of 2,905mm, the Stinger is large. With plenty of design cues from their original GT Concept car, the Stinger, especially at its hind quarters with the red tail lamp extensions, does however logically lose those rear suicide doors. On the hood, the Stinger gets a pair of faux intakes, to take in faux air? You do however get real holes, which are located on either side of the car, in the form of air curtains, with air also directed at the brakes for better cooling.

Taking inspiration from the shape of a ‘Coke bottle’, the Stinger boasts large flanks, and together with its fastback styling, delivers a striking silhouette. Its drag coefficient in-fact is a slippery 0.30 Cd.

Propping the large car up, are some aggressively-styled and suiting 19” rims, with a staggered front 225/40 and wider rear 255/35 tyres. Our 3.3 litre GT test car gets better stopping power with its standard 18” Brembo brakes (and yes, fancy red callipers), with 350mm four-piston units up at the front, and 340mm two-piston units at the rear.