It’s here. The Kia GT4 Stinger

 

Fans and car enthusiasts all around look forward to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), because every year you get a glimpse into the motoring industry’s Magic 8 Ball, a sneak peek of the future. As an innovator, Kia always strives to bring the best to every feature. This was clearly on display at CES 2014, where Kia unveiled its next generation innovative in-vehicle technologies. At the NAIAS, Kia shifts gears – and turns its attention to sheer driving pleasure.

 

Sometimes, peeling back the layers and getting down to basics can actually leave room for more – in this case, room for more horsepower and room in the backseat for, well… more. Kia’s latest concept car does just that, and leaves you even more room for imagination.

Hearkening back to the glory days of purebred, affordable sports cars, Kia Motors America (KMA) finally unveils the GT4 Stinger concept car at the NAIAS.

“The GT4 Stinger is a throwback to days when driving a car was a visceral experience that wasn’t muted by electronic gimmickry,” says Tom Kearns, chief designer at Kia Design Center America in California, where the GT4 Stinger was conceived.

“It’s a back-to-basics, 2+2 sports car that can turn heads as a daily driver while also being right at home on the track. It’s about purity, simplicity and timelessness,” Kearns adds.

Po Riding on the back of Kia’s on-track success in the Pirelli World Challenge racing series with a pair of turbocharged, GTS-class Optimas, the U.S. design team approached the GT4 Stinger project with an eye toward weight reduction, functionality and sheer driving pleasure.

Beneath the low wedge of the GT4 Stinger’s hood resides a tuned version of Kia’s proven 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline direct injected (T-GDI) four-cylinder engine putting out an impressive 315 horsepower—the same engine used to power Kia Optima racecars on the track.

That power is put to the ground via a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels, which are wrapped in 275/35R-20 Pirelli P-Zero performance tires. Staggered 235/35R-20 Pirelli P-Zeros nestle beneath the front fenders, ensuring loads of corner-carving grip. Custom 20-inch aluminum center-lock wheels feature carbon fiber inserts for strength and weight reduction. Tucked inside the massive wheels are Brembo Gran Turismo two-piece 15-inch cross-drilled rotors and four-piston calipers with plenty of stopping power.

Underpinning the GT4 Stinger’s sculpted “Ignition Yellow” body is a custom chassis with independent double wishbone suspension.  With a shorter wheelbase (103.1 inches) and overall length (169.7 inches) than a Forte sedan, a width (74.4 inches) greater than a Cadenza, and a swooping roofline nearly nine inches lower (49.2 inches) than a Rio subcompact, the GT4 Stinger cuts a menacing figure.  It tips the scales at a scant 2,874 pounds, and weight distribution is spread nearly perfectly at 52 percent up front and 48 percent at the rear. The GT4 Stinger also features a quick-ratio steering rack for direct feedback and uncompromised control.