2018 Kia Stinger will be available in the U.S.A in December

Ushering in a new dynamic era for Kia Motors, the 2018 Stinger is the culmination of a year-long journey fuelled by the company's bold and adventurous spirit. A five-passenger sportback poised to redefine a segment currently populated by European carmakers, the Stinger promises to be the highest-performance production vehicle in the company's history and is backed by Kia's quality and reliability.

Offered with multiple engine and drivetrain configurations and luxurious accommodations, the Stinger is planned to go on sale in the U.S.A in December. Riding on a chassis comprised of 55 percent advanced high-strength steel, the Stinger provides an ultra-stiff foundation for the ride-and-handling engineers to work with. This rigidity also contributes to reduced noise, vibrations and harshness, and a quiet cabin.

The MacPherson front set up features large-diameter shock absorbers, high-strength wheel bearings, and an aluminium strut brace, while the reinforced five-link rear suspension is mounted to a stiffened rear subframe. The 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder Theta II engine produces 255bhp at 6,200rpm with 353Nm of maximum torque available from 1,400rpm to 4,000rpm, propelling the Stinger from 0-100km/h in just 5.9 seconds.

Performance credentials are further enhanced through the available 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 Lambda II engine, which produces 365bhp at 6,000rpm and offers 510Nm of torque from 1,350rpm to 4,500rpm. With more power on tap than the Audi S5 Sportback and the BMW 440i Gran Coupe, the Stinger is positioned to be a worthy challenger to the competition. As such, the Stinger GT accelerates to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds, quicker than the six-cylinder Porsche Panamera. Pushing the twin-turbocharged V6 to its full potential will allow the Stinger GT to achieve a governed top speed of 269km/h.

The Stinger features a second generation eight-speed rear-drive automatic transmission. The gearbox has been designed in-house and rewards drivers with crisp shifts and maximised fuel efficiency. More typically found in aviation and racing engine applications, the transmission features Kia's first use of a Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber torque converter to help reduce torsional vibrations through the drivetrain and has been designed with an oil cooler to more efficiently handle heat build-up.

Drivers can let the gearbox manage shifts on its own or may selectively run through the gears via paddle shifters mounted aft of the steering wheel. As with the suspension and steering, up to five different shift patterns may be selected through the vehicle's electronic drive-mode system. Throttle mapping is also adjusted accordingly.