Performance is not the first word that comes to mind when one hears the name Kia, but the Korean automaker is keen to change that perception.

In August 2018 Kia South Africa will be launching the all-new Stinger performance saloon.

Performance honed

The Kia Stinger was designed in Europe with the car’s underpinnings honed at the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife. The development process was overseen by Albert Biermann, executive vice president and head of vehicle test and high performance development.

Biermann was formerly head of BMW’s M Division, so he knows a thing or two about developing performance saloons.

Plenty of firepower

Kia Motors SA will introduce the Stinger with a twin-turbocharged, 3,3-litre V6 petrol engine that develops 272 kW of power at 6 000 r/min and 510 N.m of torque between 1 300 and 4 500 r/min.

Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives power to the rear wheels, Stinger is the most powerful and fastest-accelerating production KIA ever, with a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 4,9 seconds and a top speed of 270 km/h.

Pricing

This performance comes at a price and the Stinger is set to sell for R859 995. Apart from the extensive standard specification, the price includes a 5-years unlimited mileage warranty, a 5-year/90 000 km maintenance plan and roadside assistance for 5 years.

You can watch double F1 world champ, Emerson Fittipaldi hooning the Stinger here: