The Kia Stinger is no more

Indeed, it’s been a slow five years for Kia’s handsome flagship. Devised under the guidance of former BMW M maestro Albert Biermann, the Stinger, especially in 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 GT guise, was the warmest of warm sports saloons. While never cooked to completion with a higher-powered ‘hot’ version, the Stinger GT was always a superbly balanced, great-looking driver’s saloon.

What it didn’t do in raw sales numbers however, it did do in perceptions. It was launched to critical acclaim, with car enthusiasts entirely outspoken in their approval of its existence. Very few of those positive sentiments however, translated to sales. With its loss, the marketplace contracts in terms of diversity of offerings.

Happily, the title of Kia flagship doesn’t die with the Stinger. The marque’s radical and desirable new EV, the EV6, will take the mantle in the form of the EV6 GT, packing a sturdy 580PS (427kW) from its two electric motors. Aggressively and handsomely styled and honed for performance and enthusiastic driving, we’re excited to find out what the EV6 GT is like. If its debut at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard is anything to go by, our hopes are high.

For now, though, it’s a sad goodbye to Kia’s first and last entry into the arena of the traditional sports saloon. For a first swing, it was an absolute belter. We’ll be watching values with keen interest on the used market.