KIA Motors South Africa has confirmed that their stunning Stinger GT will be introduced in South Africa - albeit in limited numbers.
The Stinger wowed crowds at last year’s SA Festival of Motoring, and since then KIA has been working hard to bring the stylish GT to South Africa. The local introduction of sporty GT, said to arrive in August 2018, co-incides with the 20th anniversary of KIA being in South Africa.
The South African specification Stinger will be exclusively in the flagship GT trim, with a single engine option - a stonking 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine that produces 272kw and 510nm, while power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The Stinger GT is the most powerful and fastest-accelerating production KIA ever, with a 0 to 100kph sprint time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 270kph.
It’s expected to compete against the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, and the Audi A5 Sportback, and even overshadows the 440i Gran Coupe’s 240kw and 450nm output.
KIA South Africa has not announced pricing and final specification, however, this will be revealed towards the end of April 2018.
FAQ
Q: What does the KIA Stinger GT cost in South Africa?
KIA South Africa hasn't announced official pricing yet, but expect the Stinger GT to land somewhere between R650,000 and R750,000 when it arrives in August 2018, positioning it squarely against the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A5 Sportback.
Q: Is the KIA Stinger GT worth buying?
Absolutely, if you want serious performance bragging rights without the German badge premium. With 272kW and 510Nm from its twin-turbo V6, the Stinger GT delivers more punch than a BMW 440i Gran Coupe while likely costing significantly less.
Q: How fast is the KIA Stinger GT compared to its German rivals?
The Stinger GT rockets from 0-100kph in just 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 270kph, making it quicker than most of its German competition and officially the fastest production KIA ever built.
Q: Will the KIA Stinger GT be available in different engine options in South Africa?
No, KIA South Africa is keeping things simple with just one specification. The local Stinger comes exclusively in flagship GT trim with the 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels.
Q: How many KIA Stinger GTs will be available in South Africa?
KIA has confirmed the Stinger GT will arrive in limited numbers, though they haven't specified exactly how many units will make it to South African shores, so you'll need to move fast when ordering opens.
Should You Buy It?
Yes, the KIA Stinger GT is absolutely worth buying if you're after serious performance without paying German luxury tax. The best sports sedan under R750,000 in South Africa will likely be this Korean missile, delivering 272kW and genuine supercar-baiting acceleration of 4.9 seconds to 100kph. While BMW and Audi charge premium prices for similar performance, the Stinger GT offers more power than a 440i Gran Coupe at what should be a significantly lower price point. Just don't wait too long to decide, because KIA's bringing limited numbers and this level of performance per rand won't hang around dealerships for long.
