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N O R T H E AST V I C TO R I A
APRIL 6 - 12 | 2018
> available online - www.nemedia.com.au
CROWD PLEASER: Sharp looks and performance to match . . . the Kia Stinger is poised to make its mark in a foreign automotive field.
POWER AND PASSION from a different direction
TO Aussies a stinger is a nasty sea creature; the deadly box jellyfish, to be precise. Recently a new ‘animal’ was added to the lexicon and it is neither nasty nor deadly. The Stinger fastback sports sedan is touted by some as being the South Korean automaker’s Commodore and Kia Motors Australia chief operating officer Damien Meredith, says he is confident the Stinger has the attributes which will endear it to Australian drivers across a wide demographic. Mated with Kia’s own eight-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels via a mechanical limited-slip differential, the latter gives the car its highperformance pedigree with a sprint from
By DEREK OGDEN zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, using launch control, and a top speed of 270 km/h. Two engines are offered, more on these later. Each engine grade comes in three specification levels - S, Si and GT-Line for the 2.0-litre and S, Si and GT for the 3.3-litre. On test was the Stinger 330Si. If the Stinger bears a strong resemblance in profile to the modern European sports sedan it is no coincidence as the Kia design chief Peter Schreyer once held a lofty design post at German automobile maker Audi. And Gregory Guillaume, Kia Europe’s chief designer, through his passion for the gran
turismo cars he admired as a child, played no small part in the evolution of the Stinger from the original GT Concept. With designers opting for an elegant, athletic look as opposed to aggressive and brutal proportions, the Stinger, together with its rear-drive set-up, delivers a spacious passenger cabin and large boot capable of carrying two full-size pieces of luggage or golf bags. Distinctive touches include Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille and a rear valance incorporating two twin oval exhaust pipes. Front air curtains, wheel-arch vents, smooth underbody and rear diffuser take care of aerodynamics. The long wheelbase, four-doors and
fastback leave good front and rear legroom. The low seating position provides ample head room for those in the front but the fastback tail can leave rear seat passengers stooping slightly. Contoured seats are available with Nappa leather (the Si has black leather trim as standard), while the driver’s seat can be had with four-way air-cell lumbar support in the seatback and side bolsters for added comfort. Bluetooth is standard across the Stinger range, while smartphones can be charged via a pad in the centre console. Quality audio is delivered through a nine-speaker system with 8-inch screen.
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