Second generation Stinger on indefinite hiatus?

Friday, 24 April 2020

It's a wrap: how Kia Stinger GT420 got its leery livery.

A new report from The Korean Car Blog is claiming Kia has canned a second generation of Stinger in light of tough economic conditions and lower-than-expected sales.

The carmaker was already on the fence about a new Stinger, with Gregory Guillaume, then the company's head of design, saying in 2018 that the model to be 'economically successful' if a second generation were to be green-lit. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the Stinger was quite the hit Kia wanted, with US sales dropping by 21 per cent over the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same time period of 2019.

Local Stinger sales for Q1 2020 came in at 43 units, while Q1 2019 showed 65 registrations. The majority of sales are the range-topping GT Sport model for both years.

Could the Stinger be a one-and-done car for Kia?

Of course, coronavirus would have had a hand in that but it still shows Kia that big rear-drive sports sedans aren't the best port of call for profits, particularly in a time where profit margins are slim.

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We should get a mid-cycle update but opefully the accountants in South Korea can find the coin for a second generation of Stinger.

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Last September, Guillaume said the Stinger wasn't 'doing as well as we hoped,' though he added that some patience was required.

Guillaume also hinted that the Stinger could become something else entirely in the future, likely electrified to some degree. However, again, it really depends on how well the Stinger sells. It will be interesting to see what happens as the world attempted to return to some semblance of normality as coronavirus loosens its grip.

A mid-cycle refresh is on the cards for the performance sedan, which could include an upgraded 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6, a tech upgrade and styling changes. No doubt Kia is hoping to inject some life into the sedan and improve sales.

It also pays to remember that police in Queensland and the Northern Territories over in Australia are all using Stingers as police cruisers. That's a big contract win for Kia and one the local distributor won't want to let die without exploring all possible avenues.

And, at the end of the day, this is information from one report citing anonymous sources. Take from that what you will.