With everyone in Kia from the CEO downwards adamant that the brand would like to introduce a rear drive sports car in 2016, the big question at Detroit was whether the stunning GT4 Stinger – the company’s first RWD coupe concept – might be it.
In a movie themed unveiling full of references to coming attractions, the Stinger – designed at the company’s Californian studios under its head, Tom Kearns – appears to be capable of meeting the Hyundai Motor affiliate brand’s ambitions to have an obtainable, enthusiasts’ sports car.
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“We would love this to be it and we wouldn’t change anything,” said Kearns. “It is a total concept at this stage but we always do our concepts with the idea at the back of our minds that we could do them without too much change. We have rear drive platforms in the group that we could use.”
The concept car is made of fibreglass but it does drive and went around a Californian test facility under its own steam for the promotional video to accompany its unveiling in Detroit.
It has see through windscreen pillars which, at this stage, Kearns is not sure are feasible for production, and a deliberately simple interior to try to bring back the connection between driver and car. Even the door openers are just red straps.
Simplicity was emphasised during the design process with each member of the team given one sheet of paper and told to produce a design accompanied by just one main title and strapline, rather like a movie poster.
The Stinger is a two door, two plus two coupe powered by a 315bhp version of the company’s two litre T-GDi direct-injection turbo engine, related to that which powers Kia’s Pirelli challenge Omega in the US, driving the rear wheels through a close ratio, six speed manual gearbox.
It has wishbone suspension, 15 inch Brembo four caliper brakes, direct steering and 20 inch carbonfibre/aluminium wheels.
Tom Loveless, who heads sales in North America, said it eschews the “laundry list of electronic driver aids” which blunt the driving enjoyment of some sports cars.
Kearns sees is it as a potential rival for the Toyota GT86, Subaru BRZ and even the Mazda MX-5. It was designed primarily with the US in mind, with a target audience of men under 35.
“If we build it it should be something people are going to be able to afford – under US$30,000,” said Kearns. “We have already shown that we can make luxury cars which are still value oriented and we can do the same with a sports car.”
