2018 Kia Stinger
#76
I think Lexus prestige was based on Luxury and Reliability. In past decade both of those attributes have lost some luster.
Audi really has supplented Lexus as the 3rd mainstream Luxury brand in US in terms of prestige.
Stinger may be a good car but the Kia badge will be a deal breaker for many ppl that want entry level luxury with a badge.
It will get sales from enthusiasts that are now driving Q50, IS350 and younger folks who have had Hyundai/Kias and want to stay with the brand.
If it was under the Genesis brand - i think it would do better.
Audi really has supplented Lexus as the 3rd mainstream Luxury brand in US in terms of prestige.
Stinger may be a good car but the Kia badge will be a deal breaker for many ppl that want entry level luxury with a badge.
It will get sales from enthusiasts that are now driving Q50, IS350 and younger folks who have had Hyundai/Kias and want to stay with the brand.
If it was under the Genesis brand - i think it would do better.
With the Genesis G70 compact coming out soon that would be a terrible idea. Also Kia and Genesis consider themselves direct competitors. Also if you don' like the Kia badge, remove it.
Many people badge delete their MBs and BMWs and there are 2 different badges you can get if you are such a badge person.
#77
#78
Lexus Test Driver
I never understood the meaning of "if it was under the Genesis badge."
With the Genesis G70 compact coming out soon that would be a terrible idea. Also Kia and Genesis consider themselves direct competitors. Also if you don' like the Kia badge, remove it.
Many people badge delete their MBs and BMWs and there are 2 different badges you can get if you are such a badge person.
With the Genesis G70 compact coming out soon that would be a terrible idea. Also Kia and Genesis consider themselves direct competitors. Also if you don' like the Kia badge, remove it.
Many people badge delete their MBs and BMWs and there are 2 different badges you can get if you are such a badge person.
Badges sell - whether it be Gucci, Apple, Ferrari etc.
A RWD performance KIA has a difficult road no matter how good this Stinger is and that is fact. Your avarage consumer shopping for MB, BMW or Audi would never consider it.
Hopefully it has some success but the Kia history of budget Korean is hard to overcome to now selling $50k sport sedans.
A RWD performance KIA has a difficult road no matter how good this Stinger is and that is fact. Your avarage consumer shopping for MB, BMW or Audi would never consider it.
Hopefully it has some success but the Kia history of budget Korean is hard to overcome to now selling $50k sport sedans.
#79
Hyundai only owns a significant share of Kia. They operate differently. Not similar to Buick and Chevy nor Toyota and Lexus.
#80
Badges sell - whether it be Gucci, Apple, Ferrari etc.
A RWD performance KIA has a difficult road no matter how good this Stinger is and that is fact. Your avarage consumer shopping for MB, BMW or Audi would never consider it.
Hopefully it has some success but the Kia history of budget Korean is hard to overcome to now selling $50k sport sedans.
A RWD performance KIA has a difficult road no matter how good this Stinger is and that is fact. Your avarage consumer shopping for MB, BMW or Audi would never consider it.
Hopefully it has some success but the Kia history of budget Korean is hard to overcome to now selling $50k sport sedans.
#81
Lexus Fanatic
Yea but the product also gives the badge worth. I don't expect the Stinger to sell in significant numbers. I don' expect it to touch 3-series sales. But I do expect the Stinger to carve out a decent sales chunk for itself rather than fail like many believe. People keep talking about past image well the young folks don't know much about Kias dark past, only things like the Optima Soul and those hip hampsters.
How well has the K900 or the Kia Boreggo done? This Kia will flop. The Genesis version I am not sure about
#82
In this era people are being sold off of comfort, technology and sporty looks whether the car is truly sporty or not. The Stinger has all 3 down pack.
#83
The pursuit of F
As for the G70, I so wanted to get into one until it got unveiled. Styling is bland to me which is why I never considered it. I can't get over the derivative sedan styling taken heavily from the TLX/IS, and from their own products, the Hyundai Accent at the rear!
#84
Lexus Champion
I hadn't seen a picture of the G70. Very nice! IMO both the Stinger and G70 will do well for their respective brands. The only thing that will restrict sales is the current trend toward CUV's and SUV's. No sedans are really setting the world on fire but the brands still need them.
#85
Hah the Kia Borrego?! That SUVs problem was that it came out in the Recession of 2008, and subsequently dropped from the US market the next year (the Kia Sorrento took it's place). It did offer an optional powerful 4.6L 'Tau' V8. That SUV still lives outside the US as the Kia Mohave in some markets.
#86
#87
Lexus Fanatic
Hah the Kia Borrego?! That SUVs problem was that it came out in the Recession of 2008, and subsequently dropped from the US market the next year (the Kia Sorrento took it's place). It did offer an optional powerful 4.6L 'Tau' V8. That SUV still lives outside the US as the Kia Mohave in some markets.
Back to the Stinger....have you had a chance to test-drive one yet? I've done the static review....I'll do a test-drive as soon as more of them become available, maybe next week.
#88
The pursuit of F
What surprised me the most is how smooth the engine was and how quiet the drive was. Arguably more refined than the 2GR-FSE in the IS/GS, etc. Low noise means great highway cruising, but not so good in regards to engine/exhaust note as it is too muted for this type of car. However, nothing an aftermarket exhaust can't fix though
#89
Lexus Fanatic
Hah the Kia Borrego?! That SUVs problem was that it came out in the Recession of 2008, and subsequently dropped from the US market the next year (the Kia Sorrento took it's place). It did offer an optional powerful 4.6L 'Tau' V8. That SUV still lives outside the US as the Kia Mohave in some markets.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 12-30-17 at 04:04 PM.
#90
Lexus Fanatic
I will no doubt be more than surprised if KIA succeeds. Interesting to see the base US price is $7K less than an IS while the Canadian model has no base model and you have a $4K price premium vs the CAN IS model. We shall see how it goes. You are going to also have to put premium fuel in the KIA ( Lexus as well) but turbo models from Honda just need regular.
Something else that is interesting is that this new KIA does not have superior fuel economy compared to a Lexus IS, the Lexus is superior. where as the KIA also included stop and go (Just looking at the base models) Not sure about the V6 models.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 12-30-17 at 04:09 PM.