Update: Introduction and ‘Specifications & Features’ sections updated and ‘eM Platform’ section added.
Kia is developing a slew of new EVs to expand its electric car line-up to 15 units by 2027. While many of them will high-riding models like SUVs and trucks, driven by the market trend, two members will be low-riding cars that are sleeker, aerodynamic, and designed to be more energy efficient, and delivering higher range.
One of the aforementioned low-riding EVs will be a Kia K8 successor codenamed ‘Kia GT1,’ as per an article ET News published on April 16, 2023. It is widely speculated that this E-segment model may serve as a Kia Stinger successor as well.
Background
On September 24, 2020, carsales reported that Kia’s Australian arm is uncertain about the future of the Stinger. On June 22, 2021, CarBuzz reported that the Stinger will be present in the future Kia line-up, but it will evolve into an electric coupe.
Fast forward to August 26, 2022, in an interview with Autohome at the 2022 Chengdu Auto Show, Quan Yiquan, Kia’s marketing boss in China, talked about the company’s future E-GMP-based EVs. He revealed that the future Kia EV models based on the platform will include a ‘GT’ model following two SUVs. There’s a good chance that he was talking about a Kia Stinger electric successor, which has a well-established grand touring ethos.
In 2024, an intelligent full-size SUV (EV9) will be launched (in China — global launch scheduled in 2023), equipped with the most advanced L3-level ADAS system, and the longest cruising range can reach 700 kilometers. In addition, we will launch two SUVs and one GT model to further enrich Kia’s pure electric product matrix and bring more diversified choices to Chinese consumers.
Quan Yiquan, Kia’s marketing head in China, to Autohome, on the sidelines of the 2022 Chengdu International Auto Show (translated)
The Kia Stinger may have significantly changed the way customers perceive the brand, but it isn’t contributing positively to the balance sheet or the sales tally. In 2021, Kia sold just 17,007 units of the Stinger in South Korea and 18,560 units in overseas markets. Most of the AutoLand Gwangmyeong (South Korea)-made four-door coupes shipped overseas, 13,517 units to be precise, are on American roads. Those are grim numbers when you compare them with the sales performance of its contemporary, the K5/Optima. Kia sold 92,342 units of the traditional mid-size sedans in the U.S. in 2021. Kia would be hoping for a reversal of fortunes with the all-electric version.
eM Platform
The Kia GT1 will be underpinned by eM platform, Hyundai Motor Group’s next-gen dedicated passenger EV platform. Think of it as an advanced E-GMP which presently supports the Ioniq 5, EV6 and the GV60. Initial test mules of the Kia GT1 that we should spot on S.Korean roads later this year will use the platform of the Genesis Electrified G80. However, by 2025, when the final prototype production begins, the GT1 will transition to the eM platform.
Two versions of the eM platform are planned: basic and high-end. The GT1 will use the basic version. The eM is part of HMG’s upcoming Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA). IMA will be an evolution E-GMP, and it will standardize not only a chassis but also a battery system and motor. The new architecture will allow leveraging cell-to-pack technology, leading to increased energy density and reduced charging time. The eM platform will provide a 50% improvement in driving range over current EVs, HMG said in an announcement on October 12, 2022.
Specifications & Features
The Kia Stinger successor will measure 5 m (196.9 in.) in length, meaning it will be just about 1.5 in. longer than the VW ID.7 (195.3 in.), potentially its direct rival. In its most powerful configuration, possibly called ‘GT,’ it will pack 450 kW (603 hp) of power, delivered by two motors, a 200 kW unit at the front and a 250 kW unit at the rear, as per a report ET News released on June 12, 2023.
With a dual-motor powertrain generating 576 hp and 546 lb.-ft. of torque, the Kia EV6 GT can accomplish a 0-60 mph sprint in just 3.4 seconds and attain a top speed of 161 mph. There’s no doubt that the Kia Stinger electric successor in its GT variant would set a new benchmark for Kia EVs, with specs that could challenge the Mercedes EQE, Audi E6, and the BMW i5.
The Kia GT1 will pack HMG’s largest battery pack with an “industry-leading” energy storage capacity of 113.2 kWh, as per the more recent ET News report. The range, even as per South Korea’s stringent testing method, is expected to be 700-800 km (435-497 mi).
The Stinger electric successor would have a multi-charging system that supports 400V and 800V DC charging, allowing customers to use 50-350 kW DC chargers. Charging from 10 to 80% could take less than 18 minutes. Expect the Plug and Charge (PnC) function and the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality also to be among the highlights of the new electric four-door coupe on the charging front. While these could be standard convenience features, the optional convenience features may include Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) that allows Level 3 autonomous driving without driver input on highway sections.
Release Date
The second ET News report says the Kia GT1 will debut between late 2025 and early 2026. Kia’s EV roadmap indicates it plans to launch one low-riding EV in 2024 and another in 2026. Thus, we think the Kia Stinger successor will debut in early 2026. The base price could be around USD 50,000.
On the gas-powered Kia Stinger’s discontinuation
On December 21, 2022, Kia announced that it will end production of the four-door sports sedan, with the launch of its final chapter – aptly titled ‘Stinger Tribute Edition’. While only 1,000 of these cars are built for the world market, the company has assured that the spirit of the Stinger will live on in its future range of cars such as the EV6 GT. The news comes as no surprise since Kia has been wanting to free up space at its AutoLand Gwangmyeong plant, where production of the EV9 SUV is currently on.
TopElectricSUV says
The Stinger is regarded for its excellent price-to-performance ratio and segment-leading warranty in the U.S. The value-for-money performance coupe is not a significant contributor to Kia’s sales. However, it does seem to have changed the way customers think about the brand’s design and engineering expertise. If the Stinger EV is a step up from the EV6 with better features and specs, it might even tempt customers of the BMW i4!
Kia Stinger electric successor FAQs
What is the Kia Stinger electric successor release date?
The Kia Stinger electric successor could arrive at dealers in early 2026 as Kia’s flagship EV sedan.
What will be the Kia Stinger electric successor price?
The base Kia Stinger electric successor could cost around USD 55,000.
Featured Image Source: Kia
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
