Interesting but a bit derivative, and I don't care for the messy interior layout. Triple round center vents, rectangular side vents, deeply hooded dials, what gives? The rear also looks like an A7 combined with a Ford Mondeo.

 

I think any critique of styling has to come with a caveat that this is a mid priced RWD Kia, which is an awesome thing.

 

looks awesome.

 

I was refering to the basic platform, not necessarily the body dimensions. One can sometimes vary a little in in size, relative to the other.

 

The first picture I saw was head on with the rear - and Audi really came to mind. It's not exactly a "fast" car - but nice, sporty and quick...

I've seen a bunch of people say this car is stealing the show at NAIAS - and these aren't Hyundai or Kia fanboys either. Knock offs sell pretty well these days. Lexus did great with their knockoffs over the years. And so does everyone else. Most buyers don't require their vehicle to be original anymore. The few buyers that do are so few and far in between - they just don't matter to the manufacturer.

The Kia Stinger uses the G80's platform - modified to be four inches shorter... The fully loaded twin turbo V6 will probably top out at around $45k.

I've seen so many people praise the name and actually love the fact that it's not an alphanumeric...

Right. Generally, nobody cares anymore. Unless they're spending an astronomical amount of money...

 

 

Welcome back, Sal. Haven't seen you post in Car Chat for a LONG time.

 

Copied mercedes' interior and audi rs7's rear!

 

Thank you. I woke up with the new LS500 information. That's what I've been waiting for.

Yes, that's what I see as well... Really, not bad for a Kia - to do that as well as they did...

 

this thing is going to sink or swim solely on price. I don't think a KIA sedan should be over $40k well equipped

kia's prices are climbing too high too fast. They are risking low sales to raise KIA's image.

 

Sweet looking car, albeit a bit over-styled in areas (e.g. the side vents on the lower fenders, tail light extensions onto the sides, etc.). The rear is stunning.

However I just don't see this doing very well on the market. It's a very niche product being sold by a company with no pedigree as far as performance vehicles go. Very few people will be willing to dish out that type of coin on a Kia no matter how much of a bargain it is compared to the likes of the 540i, S6, etc. The concept of a RWD V8 powered sport sedan would've fared better as a high trim version of the Genesis brand's future entry level model.

 

I don't agree that they don't have any pedigree or heritage in performance vehicles. . Hyundai did the Genesis Coupe very well....I did a full-review on one several years ago.

 

There's a reason prices have gone up. Their build-quality has climbed even faster. At Consumer Reports, They now rank #5 in reliability among all automakers...trailing only Lexus, Toyota, Buick (yes, Buick is now at #3), and Audi.

 

Every automaker has to start somewhere.

Whether it does well or not, you said it yourself, its a niche product. The fact Kia had the stones to put this out (and kept it Lexus secret-esque until its unveiling) I give them props.

Hyundai being Kia's parent company still pulls a few strings. They've recently added the N Performance brand (to Hyundai). The N stands for Namyang where Hyundai Motor Global R&D is, but then the performance N models go to the infamous Nürburgring in Germany to be honed.

Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis all want a piece of the niche and luxury markets too. Can't blame them.

 

But that was a Hyundai not a Kia. Performance enthusiasts have never gravitated toward the brand for anything.