Kia Stinger To Come Down Under & Kia Picanto Gets A Facelift.
A talking point of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit event before the doors have been thrown open, the new Kia Stinger has been confirmed for Australia.
The sleek, powerful rear-wheel drive GT fastback sports sedan is expected to make it into Australian showrooms by the end of the third quarter this year.
“This is a car you cannot help but be excited by,” Kia Motors Australia Chief Operating Officer Damien Meredith said. “It has all the attributes to appeal to the Australian enthusiast: exciting design, a high-tech performance engine and gearbox combination and rear-wheel drive.
“The Stinger is the right car to take Kia, and the brand’s perception, to the next level in Australia. It is the type of car to add desire and excitement to Kia’s core values of style, reliability and value.”
The Stinger will arrive in Australia with the 3.3-litre V6 twin turbo driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed transmission.
While final specifications are still to be settled the Stinger is expected to produce 272kW of power at 6000rpm and an impressive 510Nm of torque from 1300rpm through to 4500rpm. There is an expected 0-100km/h sprint of 5.1 seconds.
“Those are the sort of performance figures which will give the Stinger credibility in any company and add an emotional element to the already compelling practical reasons: 7-year warranty, 7-year capped price service and 7-year roadside assist, for considering a Kia,” Mr Meredith said.
Designed in Kia’s European studio in Frankfurt under the hand of Kia’s head of design Peter Schreyer and developed over extensive testing on the grueling Nurburgring under the watchful eye of KMC’s performance and engineering guru Albert Biermann, the Stinger is an uncompromising rendition of the true gran turismo ethos: nimble and fast, luxurious and quiet, with the perfect balance of ride and handling.
“I think for the Kia brand, the Stinger is like a special event,” Biermann said. “Because nobody expects such a car, not just the way it looks, but also the way it drives. It’s a whole different animal.”To further define the car for Australia, the KMAu ride and handling team will refine the suspension and tuning to ensure Australian buyers are presented with a local tuning package which best suits Australia’s testing roads. 
This news comes on the back of the release of information for the revamped Picanto, Kia’s entrant into the almost micro car class.
Created by Kia’s design centres in Namyang, Korea and Frankfurt, Germany, the new Picanto brings youthful and energetic character to the A-segment. The new model – revealed in Kia’s sports-inspired ‘GT-Line’ specification – conveys a more assertive stance through bolder body lines and subtly sculpted surfaces. A 15 mm-longer wheelbase (2,385 mm to 2,400 mm) also pushes the wheels further out into each corner for a more confident appearance. The Picanto’s colour palette is more vibrant than ever, with a choice of 11 bright paint options designed to make the car stand out.
Inside, Picanto’s suite of high-tech comfort, convenience and safety features is underscored by a modern and refined new cabin design. At the heart of the cabin is a new ‘floating’ touchscreen infotainment system, making the latest in-car technology available to occupants. The Picanto offers greater potential for customer personalisation, with buyers able to choose from a range of colours for trim and upholstery.
Buyers of the all-new Picanto will enjoy smarter packaging efficiency than ever before, with more cabin and cargo space than rivals in the segment. In spite of its extended wheelbase, the Picanto retains its characteristically compact dimensions. With a shorter front overhang and longer rear overhang, the all-new model is the same length (3,595 mm) as the car it replaces.
Kia will reveal the all-new Picanto in public for the first time at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show in March, and will go on sale in Australia in the second quarter.
(With acknowledgement to Kia Australia for information.)
Level 2, 9 Help Street
Greg says:
Korean car makers would be better off building a quality ute instead of six cylinder “performance” cars. The ute market is the biggest growth area in the car game in Oz. Even so, I am still very happy with my little 2013 Kia Rio after three years–that’s when I can get my wife out of the driver’s seat! She loves it too.
January 23rd, 2017 at 10:16 am
Robert Townsend says:
Please keep me informed o progress into Australia this is my year to change cars, also looking forward to Genesis 70 from Hyundai
January 23rd, 2017 at 10:54 am
Dan Turner says:
The Kia Stinger looks great. What models will be available and what is the range of prices. I never thought I would be looking at a Kia to replace my Commodore!.
January 23rd, 2017 at 11:23 am
Des says:
What is the expected price in Australia.
January 23rd, 2017 at 11:50 am
Paul Shoobert says:
I am very interested in the new Kia Stinger and would like to be advised further when the vehicle will be arriving and the best way of purchasing one
January 23rd, 2017 at 1:18 pm
maurice laarhoven says:
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE BEST SUV TO PURCHASE IN 2017
January 23rd, 2017 at 2:19 pm
Troy Lawton says:
As everybody else has stated “I would like to know the Purchase Price on the Kia Sprinter”.
Please send any and all information on when the vehicle when it has arrived in Australia.
Interested on all prices from the standard to the premium / elite.
Kind Regards,
troy Lawton.
January 24th, 2017 at 6:33 pm