2018 Kia Stinger Performance Highlights – Video
If the chassis symbolizes the bones of a gran turismo, then surely the available powertrains represent its heart. Oriented longitudinally and set rearward beneath the long, sculpted hood, a choice of two turbocharged engines are available.
The 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder Theta II engine produces 255 horsepower at 6,200 rpm with 260 lb.-ft. of maximum torque available from 1,400 – 4,000 rpm, propelling the Stinger from 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds8. Performance credentials are further enhanced through the available 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 Lambda II engine, which produces 365 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and offers 376 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,350 – 4,500 rpm. With more power on tap than the Audi S5 Sportback, BMW 440i Gran Coupe, and Infiniti Q509, the Stinger GT is positioned to be a worthy challenger to the competition. As such, the Stinger GT accelerates to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds10, quicker than the six-cylinder Porsche Panamera11. Pushing the twin turbocharged V6 to its full potential will allow the Stinger GT to achieve a governed top speed of 167 mph12.
The Stinger features an in-house designed second-generation eight-speed rear-drive automatic transmission. More typically found in aviation- and racing-engine applications, the transmission features Kia’s first use of a Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber (CPA) torque converter on the 2.0L 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.
Recognizing that passionate drivers may not always reside in optimal climes, the Stinger is Kia’s first sedan available with rear- or all-wheel drive. Rear-wheel biased for optimal control in the wet or dry, the AWD system features a new Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control system which monitors driver inputs and road conditions and automatically applies power and braking force to the appropriate wheels to help maintain course in a variety of adverse conditions. The system freely distributes torque between the front and rear wheels and also can send power from side to side, depending on driving conditions. Should the system detect slippage, power is seamlessly directed towards the front or rear wheels, depending on the driving situation. Up to 50 percent of torque can be distributed to the front wheels, and in Sport mode up to 80 percent of the power can be routed to the rear wheels. Rear-drive GT2 models get the benefit of an available multi-plate limited slip differential to help evenly distribute power through the rear wheels and enhance directional stability.
A choice of alloy wheels and tires is also offered. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder models ride on 225/45R-18 performance all-season tires while the 3.3-liter V6 is shod with staggered ultra-high performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires that have been specifically engineered and tuned for the Stinger; 225/40R-19 in front and 255/35R-19 at the rear.
Engineers subjected the Stinger to a variety of high-speed braking tests, including continuous runs down the infamous Grossglockner High Alpine Road in the Austrian Alps for constant downhill brake testing. The Stinger GT’s stopping power comes from standard high-performance Brembo®13 disc brakes featuring quad-piston front calipers and dual-piston rear calipers, which were subjected to temperatures of more than 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit during their development. The lightweight monobloc all-aluminum calipers reduce unsprung weight and are coupled with large diameter brake discs (13.8-in. front and 13.4-in. rear) that quickly dissipate heat and deliver extremely short stopping distances.