Shortly after teasing the Kia Stinger on social media, Naza Kia Malaysia (NKM) has officially launched the brand’s halo Grand Tourer here in Malaysia. Lucky for us, Malaysian customers have the option for the road-tax friendly 2.0-litre four-cylinder or the adrenaline-pumping 3.3-litre V6.
First previewed at the 2017 Malaysia Auto Show, the Stinger sits at the very top of the Korean carmaker’s product line-up. The fully imported Stinger has the performance credentials to rival the likes of Mercedes-AMG C 43, strengthened with a much more attractive price tag of RM239k for the entry-level 2.0-litre GT-Line and RM309k for the range-topping 3.3-litre V6.
QUICK FACTS
| Name | Kia Stinger 2.0L GT-Line | Kia Stinger GT 3.3L V6 |
| Engine | 1,998cc; 4-cylinder turbo | 3,342cc; twin-turbo V6 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | |
| Max Power | 255 hp | 365 hp |
| Max Torque | 353 Nm @ 1,400 – 4,000 rpm | 510 Nm @ 1,300 – 4,500 rpm |
| 0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed | 6.0 seconds | 4.9 seconds; 269 km/h |
| Price (OTR without insurance) | RM239,888 | RM309,888 |
Visually, both Stinger variants are armed to the teeth with LED projector headlamps, LED combination headlamps, dark chrome finish for the front grille, side mirror caps, quad exhaust outlet and 18-inch alloy wheels. The only differentiating trims on the more expensive GT are the upsized 19-inch alloys and red Brembo brake calipers.
Inside, the Stinger is as good as it gets with leather upholstery, 7.0-inch LCD supervision instrument cluster, dual-zone automatic climate control, electronic parking brake, 12-way powered front seats with memory function for driver seats, heated and ventilated front seats, 8.0-inch infotainment system and 700W 15-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system.
Stepping up to the GT variant, you’ll find an additional multi-info gauge (G-Force, oil temperature, etc), Premium Nappa leather upholstery, heads-up display, 16-way powered driver seats and GT embroidery on the seat headrest.
NKM has introduced two engine options for the Stinger – the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol and the 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6. The four-cylinder packs 255 hp and 353 Nm while the six-cylinder has 365 hp and 510 Nm of twist. Both engines are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission to send drive exclusively to the rear wheels.
Even if you opt for the smaller capacity engine, the Stinger GT-Line will still sprint to the 100 km/h mark in 6.0 seconds flat. Of course, if speed is what you seek, the twin-turbocharged V6 can propel the Stinger GT to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds – just 0.2 seconds deficit from the Mercedes-AMG C 43.
NKM did not compromise on safety equipment for its flagship model with seven airbags, Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control (DTVC), limited-slip differential, launch control, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control System (TCS), ABS, Hill-start assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), 360-degree surround view camera, blind spot monitor as well as front and rear parking sensors.
There are four exterior colours to choose from, HiChroma Red, Deep Chroma Blue, Panthera Metal and Aurora Black. The top-spec GT gets an exclusive red interior while the GT-Line gets a single-tone black theme.
IMAGE GALLERY
Kia Stinger GT 3.3L V6
