The Kia Stinger GT is entering the final stages of its testing and development programme before going on sale later this year.
After the completion of a world-wide testing schedule, Kia is focusing its final calibration efforts for the all-new Stinger at the 20.81km Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany.
Kia say each development car is being put through a minimum of 10,000 km – equivalent to 480 laps – of driving around the Nordschleife.
Before arriving at the Nordschleife, Stinger prototypes completed 1.1 million km of testing.
Much of the testing at the Nordschleife is for the 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 Stinger, as most of the development work for the 2.0 and 2.2-litre powertrains – rear- and all-wheel drive – is said to be completed. One diesel prototype has also been tested, completing over 20,000km around the Nordschleife.
But for Kia, the on-track testing is not intended to achieve outright lap speed. Back at the Stingers release during the 2017 North American International Auto Show, Kia Motors Europe’s Chief Designer, Gregory Guillaume, explained that the GT's main purpose is to cover distance enjoyably and comfortably.
“The new Kia GT is a true gran turismo, a car for spirited long-distance driving,” said Guillaume.
“It’s not about outright power, hard-edged dynamics and brutal styling all at the expense of luxury, comfort and grace. The new GT has nothing to do with being the first to arrive at the destination – this car is all about the journey. It’s about passion.”
That said, the top-spec Kia Stinger powered by a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 will be no slouch, accelerating from 0 - 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds, making it the fastest-accelerating production Kia ever.
Brembo’s high-carbon 18-inch steel brakes have been selected to for the job of bringing the Stinger to a halt, proven at temperatures rising above 800°C during testing and said to offer consistent braking power and pedal feel.
The Kia Stinger enters production in the second half of 2017, and goes on sale globally during the fourth quarter of the year.
Local pricing and final specifications will be announced closer to the Stinger’s on-sale release date.
