Kia Discontinues Stinger Gross sales In UK, Readies EV6 GT As Alternative

Effectively, this doesn’t come as a lot of a shock. Kia is discontinuing the Stinger within the UK because the automaker prepares to launch the electrical EV6 GT out there. Kia first previewed the Stinger in 2011 earlier than a manufacturing model arrived for the 2018 mannequin 12 months.

Over the previous couple of years, there have been quite a few experiences and rumors predicting the mannequin’s demise. One report as just lately as final month urged that Kia is planning to finish Stinger manufacturing in April of subsequent 12 months. Stinger gross sales within the automaker’s residence nation make it the corporate’s slowest-selling mannequin in South Korea.

In saying the Stinger’s demise within the UK, the automaker referred to as it “a totemic automobile” for the corporate, which “served as a daring assertion of intent for the model.” It additionally helped introduce the Kia model to new patrons and rework its notion. Kia UK President and CEO Paul Philpott mentioned that the Stinger would go down as a “transformative second” for the automaker, which modified fairly a bit within the 2010s.

Serving because the Stinger’s alternative within the UK market would be the electrical Kia EV6 GT, “the perfect automobile to take the baton from the Stinger,” mentioned Philpott. The EV6 GT delivers 577 horsepower (430 kilowatts) and 546 pound-feet (740 Newton-meters) of torque. In 2021, Kia’s design boss hinted that the EV6 GT may function the model’s alternative for the Stinger within the lineup. Kia will begin EV6 GT deliveries within the UK earlier than the top of the 12 months. 

The sporty sedan was by no means a powerful vendor for the model. Its finest gross sales 12 months within the US was its first full 12 months of gross sales in 2018. Since then, gross sales have leveled off at round 13,000. Kia refreshed the automobile for the 2021 mannequin 12 months, tweaking the outside design, upgrading the cabin, and revamping the powertrain choice. Kia added a brand new North American-exclusive engine – a 300-horsepower (223-kilowatt) 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.

Whereas Kia has stopped Stinger gross sales within the UK, the automaker did say that manufacturing will proceed in South Korea. It should additionally fulfill all present buyer orders for the mannequin within the UK.