Detroit 2017: Kia unveils sleek Stinger four‑door coupe

It’s the new, sportiest-ever Kia, latest and most convincing statement yet that the Korean firm wants to mix it with BMW, Audi, and Mercedes. The Stinger is a five-door GT with a curvy fastback style, up to 365bhp under the bonnet, and a chassis honed on the Nurburgring under the watchful eye of a former BMW M boss.

In most potent 365bhp 3.3 turbo V6 form (there’s also a 255bhp 2.0-litre turbo four-pot) the fastest Kia ever does 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds and tops out at 167mph. It’s rear-wheel drive, but there will also be an all-wheel-drive version. Another Kia first is that it will come with adjustable damping control and different driving modes.

Think of the Stinger as a rival for the 3-series, A4 and Merc C-Class models in their mid-sportiest forms, although the Kia is quite a bit larger than those cars. Kia says the Stinger’s extended wheelbase provides plenty of room inside a luxuriously trimmed cabin for five, along with a big boot.

Kia has been promising us this car since 2011 when design boss Peter Schreyer unveiled the Kia GT concept, an attempt to add a passionate sporty side to what the world knew as cooking models for the masses. We’d say that on looks and spec at least, mission accomplished.

Shown in Detroit in production-ready form, the Stinger will be in UK showrooms later this year. Prices are yet to be confirmed.