Kia's Engine-Changed 'Stinger Meister'... Can It Shake Off Poor Sales?

2.5 Gasoline Turbo and 3.3 Gasoline Turbo Engine Lineup Adjustment

Stinger Meister (Photo by Kia Motors)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Kia Motors' premium sedan Stinger has returned after three years with a new engine and various advanced features added. Despite receiving praise from domestic and international experts, the Stinger has struggled with poor sales performance, drawing attention to whether it can restore its pride through product improvements.

The 'Stinger Meister,' which underwent its first product enhancement since its launch in 2017, features a more dynamic yet luxurious design, a new 2.5 turbo engine, and advanced safety and convenience features.

The biggest change is the improved engine lineup befitting a sports sedan. The previous 2.0 gasoline turbo, 3.3 gasoline turbo, and 2.2 diesel lineup have been replaced in this new model by a 2.5 gasoline turbo and a 3.3 gasoline turbo. Kia has added a model equipped with the new powertrain ‘Smartstream G2.5 T-GDI’ for the first time, shifting the lineup to focus on gasoline engines instead of diesel.

The new powertrain delivers a maximum output of 304 horsepower and a peak torque of 43.0 kgf·m, with a fuel efficiency of 11.2 km/ℓ. The 3.3 gasoline turbo model also increased its maximum output by 3 horsepower to 373 horsepower compared to the previous model. Additionally, an electronically controlled variable exhaust valve that adjusts the exhaust sound has been applied to enhance driving enjoyment. Another attractive feature is the standard application of a limited-slip differential (M-LSD) on all trims, which maintains engine power while aiding stable cornering.

Stinger Meister Interior (Photo by Kia Motors)

Advanced safety and convenience features such as Kia Pay, remote 360-degree view, and vehicle location sharing service are fully equipped. Even when the driver is far away, the remote 360-degree view allows checking the surroundings or status of the vehicle, and it is also possible to share the current vehicle location or destination via text message with family or others.

The price has increased by about 3 million KRW compared to the previous model. The 2.5 gasoline turbo Platinum is priced at 38.53 million KRW, and the Masters trim at 41.97 million KRW. In the Masters trim, the GT 3.3 turbo package (4.46 million KRW) can be selected, bringing the price to 46.43 million KRW.

The Stinger Meister is regarded as a key model that will determine the future of the Stinger, attracting considerable industry attention. In recent years, the Stinger has been recognized for its quality by achieving excellent results in automotive product satisfaction surveys and new car quality surveys conducted by U.S. market research firm J.D. Power.

However, despite continuous praise, poor sales performance has made the Stinger a 'pain point' for Kia. While it sold about 1,000 units per month in its first year, sales began to decline the following year, dropping to an average of about 300 units per month last year. As sluggish sales continued in overseas markets, rumors of discontinuation circulated mainly in foreign media. Nevertheless, given the symbolic significance of the Stinger as a high-performance model within Kia, it is imperative to achieve a turnaround with this new model.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.