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 Stinger GT
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| Kia Stinger GT |
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<< Prev Page 2 of 2  Joining the company from BMW in December, 2014, Albert Biermann's first look at the Stinger signalled to him a car that had to live up to its stunning design from behind the wheel. "I think, for the Kia brand, the Stinger is like a special event," notes Biermann. "Because nobody expects such a car, not just the way it looks but also the way it drives. It's a wholly different animal."Setting the manufacturing hard-points of the body-in-white would define Stinger and the engineers looked carefully across a landscape dotted with contenders. At 114.4 inches, the Stinger's wheelbase is longer than the Audi A4, Infiniti Q50, Lexus IS, BMW 4 Gran Coupe and even the Lexus GS and Mercedes CLS. It's also longer overall (190.2 inches) and wider (73.6 inches) than the others in the segment, allowing for spacious accommodation. The Stinger's boot area is also larger than many in its class, with enough space for full-size luggage or golf bags and a power tailgate with smart functionality is available. Riding on a chassis comprised of 55 per cent advanced high-strength steel, the Stinger provides an ultra-stiff foundation for the ride-and-handling engineers to work with. This rigidity also contributes to reduced NVH and a quiet cabin. The MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspension has been tuned to provide optimal feedback to the driver. A Kia first, ride-damping and vehicle handling traits may be modified by the driver through an electronically adjustable suspension known as Dynamic Stability Damping Control. Whilst always reacting predictably to the driver's inputs, depending on road conditions and driving style, the Stinger can be tuned to respond with more agility through corners as the system softens the front shocks and firms up the rear. Conversely, improved high-speed stability is achieved when the system stiffens the front shocks and softens the rear. The system is accessed through five drive modes (another Kia first): Personal, Eco, Sport, Comfort and Smart. Standard variable ratio Rack-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) offers razor-sharp feedback through direct mounting of the electric motor on the steering rack, enhancing steering response and reducing unwanted vibration from transmitting through the column. Steering boost is also adjustable through the five selectable drive modes. If the chassis symbolises the bones of a gran turismo, then surely the available powertrains represent its heart. Oriented longitudinally and set rearward beneath the long, sculpted bonnet, a choice of two turbocharged engines are available, initially. Both engines are still under final development but the standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder Theta II engine produces an estimated 255 horsepower at approximately 6,200 rpm. Max torque of 260 lb.-ft. is available from 1,400 - 4,000 rpm. Performance credentials are further enhanced through the alternative 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 Lambda II engine, which is anticipated to produce 365 horsepower at an estimated 6,000 rpm and offer max torque of 376 lb.-ft. from 1,300 - 4,500 rpm. Kia is targeting 5.1 seconds to 62 mph and a top speed of 167 mph with the twin turbocharged V6. The Stinger features a second-generation eight-speed rear-drive automatic transmission. First offered in the K900 luxury sedan, the gearbox has been designed in-house and rewards drivers with crisp shifts and maximised fuel efficiency. More typically found in aviation- and racing-engine applications, the transmission features Kia's first use of a Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber (CPA) torque converter to help reduce torsional vibrations through the drivetrain. 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. Recognising that passionate drivers may not always reside in optimal climes, the Stinger is Kia's first saloon car available with rear- or all-wheel drive - depending on market. 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 maintain course in adverse conditions. Rear-drive vehicles get the benefit of a mechanical limited slip differential to help evenly distribute power through the rear wheels. A choice of alloy wheels and tyres are also offered. The 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder models ride on 225/45R-18 performance tyres while the 3.3-litre V6 is shod with staggered ultra-high performance rubber; 225/40R-19 in front and 255/35R-19 at the rear. Vented Brembo disc brakes are standard on the 3.3-litre twin turbo and feature quad-piston front calipers and dual-piston rear calipers. Offering luxurious amenities and unexpected features have become part of Kia's DNA and the Stinger continues that tradition. Multiple Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) seamlessly work together to enhance the driving experience. In the United States, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths, and 71,000 injuries annually. A Kia first is the new Driver Attention Alert (DAA) system to help combat distracted or drowsy driving. The system monitors a number of inputs from the vehicle and the driver and will sound a warning chime and display a graphic in the instrument binnacle that it's time to take a break from driving if it senses the driver's attention level has been significantly reduced. Forward Collision Assistance (FCA)3 with integrated Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection can detect a potential collision with another vehicle or pedestrian and help bring the car to a halt. Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC) maintains a pre-set distance between the Stinger and the vehicle in front and can bring the car to a full stop in congested traffic. Lane Keep Assist (LKA) actively monitors the vehicle's intended lane and will alert the driver with an audible warning along with providing steering input to help maintain the vehicle's position. Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) scans the area behind the vehicle when backing from a parking space and will alert the driver with an audible warning if cross traffic is detected. Connectivity, entertainment and vehicle information can be as important as a dynamic driving experience and the Stinger comes to market with the latest infotainment systems. The height-adjustable colour Head-Up Display (HUD) display enables the driver to see key driving information reflected on the windshield glass, including speed, turn-by-turn navigation, audio and cruise control settings and Blind Spot Detection information. Resting within the centre console is a wireless Smartphone charging pad and Bluetooth hands-free operation is standard while many of the vehicle's subsystems may be accessed through the steering-wheel-mounted controls. Long-distance travel is a hallmark of the gran turismo ownership experience and there is a trio of high-performance audio systems designed to turn the interior into a dynamic concert hall as the miles blur by. The base audio system for the 2.0-litre turbo features six-speakers and a seven-inch haptic touchscreen with the latest version of UVO, Kia's award-winning telematics systems. The standard system found in the 3.3-litre twin turbo ups the speaker count to nine and includes an external amplifier. The available premium Harman/Kardon audio system pumps out 720 watts through an external amplifier to provide crystal-clear music. With 15 speakers and Kia's first under-seat mounted subwoofers tucked beneath the driver and passenger seats, the system features Clari-Fi, a patented music restoration technology that rebuilds audio signals that are lost in the digital compression process. This technology returns a high-fidelity listening experience to any compressed digital source. The system also comes equipped with next-generation QuantumLogic Surround Sound technology, which extracts signals from the original recording and redistributes them into an authentic, multidimensional soundstage for playback that is clear, refined and full of detail. << Prev Page 2 of 2 |
| Article | Image gallery (22) | Specifications |
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