Well, this isn’t exactly shocking. As the manufacturer is ready to release the electric EV6 GT on the market, Kia is ceasing production of the Kia Stinger in the UK. Before a production model of the Stinger debuted for the 2018 model year, Kia initially gave it a glimpse in 2011.
There have been several reports and speculations over the past few years forecasting the model’s doom. One report from only a month ago said that Kia intended to stop producing the Stinger in April of the following year. The Stinger is the automaker’s slowest-selling vehicle in South Korea based on sales in its native market.
The carmaker described the Stinger as “a totemic automobile” for the business and “acted as a powerful statement of purpose for the brand” when it announced the model’s discontinuation in the UK. It also assisted in changing consumer opinion of the Kia brand and introducing it to new customers. Paul Philpott, president, and chief executive officer of Kia UK, claimed that the Stinger will be remembered as a “transformative moment” for the company, which underwent significant upheaval in the 2010s.
The electric Kia EV6 GT, dubbed “the ideal car to carry the torch from the Stinger,” will replace the Stinger in the UK market. 577 horsepower (430 kilowatts) and 546 pound-feet (740 Newton-meters) of torque are produced by the EV6 GT. The EV6 GT may replace the Stinger in Kia’s range, the brand’s design chief suggested in 2021. Before the end of the year, Kia will begin EV6 GT deliveries in the UK.
The brand never had much success with its sporty car. Its first full year of sales in 2018 was its highest sales year in the US. Sales have stabilized at roughly 13,000 since that time. For the 2021 model year, Kia updated the vehicle, making changes to the appearance, interior, and engine options. A 300-horsepower (223-kilowatt) 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from Kia has been added, and it is only available in North America.
While Kia has discontinued selling Stingers in the UK, the carmaker has said that South Korean production will continue. Additionally, it will complete all current client orders for the model in the UK.
