Kia Stinger: Australian arm “determined” to get the sound right
On track for a late 2017 Australian launch, Kia Australia says local tuning and development of the much-anticipated Kia Stinger is progressing well, with the next major challenge being to ensure the rear-wheel-drive, four-door sports sedan sounds as good as it can.
Speaking exclusively to CarAdvice, Kia Australia media and corporate communications general manager Kevin Hepworth said the upcoming Stinger is “the most exciting model we’ve ever had” and getting the right exhaust on it is hugely important.
“We’re determined to get the right sound from the car,” Hepworth said, while revealing that the local team isn’t expecting to have the job finalised until August.
CarAdvice understands that a variable (or Holden Commodore-style bi-modal) exhaust system is unlikely to find its way onto the potentially potent Kia Stinger GT flagship, meaning the 4.9-second 0-100km/h-claiming car will likely only offer a ‘fixed’ system.
Hepworth, however, did also confirm that all local suspension tuning and evaluation work is now “done and dusted”, assuring interested parties that the brand’s new halo car is most definitely “a special piece of kit”.
Planned to launch locally in early September, the Kia Stinger range is expected to kick off around the mid-$40k mark, and comprise two to three trim variants for each of the two powerplants offered. That will mean entry-level, mid-spec, and full-fruit versions of both the 190kW/353Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 272kW/510Nm twin-turbocharged 3.3-litre V6.
Despite the most powerful offering still coming in 32kW and 60Nm shy of the 304kW/570Nm naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre LS3 V8 in the current, but fated, Holden Commodore SS, SS V, and SS V Redline, come 2018, the Kia Stinger will be the only rear-wheel-drive large car on sale in Australia, priced below $60,000.
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