The Kia Stinger is today withdrawn from sale in the UK, ahead of the arrival of Kia’s new high-performance EV6 GT later this year.
The Kia Stinger first burst on to the scene in 2017, and received a range of updates in 2021. Powered by a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, the Stinger has been – for several years – Kia’s fastest-accelerating car to date, achieving the 0-to-62mph sprint in 4.7 seconds.
It was also a totemic car for Kia. The high-performance, rear-wheel drive sports saloon served as a bold statement of intent for the brand, capable of covering great distances in comfort and style. Kia’s ‘grand tourer’ also introduced the brand to a different type of buyer, playing an important role in transforming perceptions of Kia in recent years.
Waiting in the wings to take its place is the all-electric, zero-emissions EV6 GT, with first customer deliveries starting in the UK before the end of the year. The new model not only takes the Stinger’s crown for fastest-accelerating Kia, sprinting from 0-to-62mph in 3.5 seconds. It is also the most powerful production car that Kia has ever made, with its dual-motor electric powertrain producing 577 bhp (430kW) and 740 Nm (546lb ft) torque.
The EV6 GT is based on Kia’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), engineered exclusively to accommodate the car’s considerable electric power. With a powerful motor on each axle, and the long-range 77.4kWh battery placed beneath the car’s flat cabin floor, the EV6 GT offers a generous level of interior space inside a sleek, coupe-inspired crossover design. With a driving range of 265 miles (WLTP combined), it also boasts 800V charging technology, enabling it to recharge from 10-to-80 per cent in 18 minutes from an ultra-rapid charger.
Compared to more conventional EV6 variants, the EV6 GT boasts bespoke chassis and powertrain features. These include performance brakes, optimised steering, and reworked suspension for greater driver control and confidence. An updated Drive Mode Select system offers a new ‘GT Mode’, allowing drivers to customise their driving experience and unleash the car’s full performance capabilities.
Paul Philpott, President & CEO for Kia UK, comments: “The launch of the Stinger will go down as a transformative moment for Kia. Its driver-focused ‘grand tourer’ credentials, paired with Kia’s reputation for vehicle quality and design, made it an incredibly compelling car for drivers. At the same time, it also had a transformative effect on how people saw Kia.
“For the same reasons, the EV6 GT is the ideal car to take the baton from the Stinger in the UK. Our future product plan has a major focus on electrification, and globally Kia plans to offer a line-up of 14 EVs by 2027. Combining high-performance capabilities with an incredible design and a long-range electric powertrain, the EV6 GT is an important part of this plan, and a true new flagship for the Kia brand.”
The Kia Stinger remains in production in South Korea, and Kia UK will fulfil all existing customer orders for the model. Order books are now open for the new EV6 GT from Kia’s UK dealer network, with first customer deliveries due to commence in the final quarter of 2022.
