Kia’s Stinger is entering a palpable transition as the brand shifts its focus toward electrification while rethinking the sports sedan’s future. Reports from Auto Times Korea indicate that Kia plans to launch the next Stinger in April 2023, a decision driven by strategic realities that shape the brand’s path. Rather than rushing a second generation, Kia is prioritizing a broader move to electrified models across its lineup. At the same time, demand for the Stinger has cooled, prompting a careful re-evaluation of how the model fits into Kia’s production and product mix.
In the domestic market, Stinger sales have fallen markedly. From January through September, just 1,499 units were sold, roughly a 39 percent drop from the prior year. On the international stage, sales patterns are more nuanced. Goodcarbadcar.net highlights that Kia delivered 6,643 Stingers in the United States in 2022, signaling a varied reception across markets. Still, there remains a segment of buyers who view the Stinger as strong value for money, and certain regions show a loyal following that reinforces the model’s enduring appeal among enthusiasts.
What lies ahead for Kia’s Stinger is a topic of ongoing industry chatter. Last summer, rumors suggested a pause in Stinger production during the second quarter, yet those plans did not come to fruition. While no direct successor has been confirmed, Kia has suggested that an electric crossover tied to the EV6 family could embody the Stinger’s spirit in a modern, electrified form, hinting at a sports sedan flavor within its evolving electric lineup.
The Stinger lineup itself offers multiple engine options with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The base configuration features a two-liter engine at 197 horsepower, capable of accelerating from rest to 60 kilometers per hour in about eight seconds. A more potent version maintains the same 2.0-liter displacement but delivers around 247 horsepower, achieving a 0-60 time near 6.2 seconds. A high-performance option uses a larger 3.3-liter engine, producing roughly 370 horsepower and reaching 60 mph in about 5.3 seconds. In some markets, turbo diesel variants exist, tuned to around 200 horsepower with 0-60 times near seven and a half seconds.
Across the range, the Stinger emphasizes a balanced approach to dynamics, with either rear or all-wheel drive, spirited handling, and a value proposition that resonates with buyers who want performance without paying premium sport-sedan prices. This balance helps keep the model of interest to Canadian and American enthusiasts, even as the broader strategy pivots toward electrified mobility with a future focused on efficiency and emissions targets. The ongoing conversation about the Stinger mirrors Kia’s broader effort to align product incentives with electrification goals while preserving the brand’s performance identity. Attribution: Auto Times Korea; ongoing market data from Goodcarbadcar.net and regional sales summaries provide the context used to frame these updates.