If there’s one model from Kia that ever shook the world, it would be the Kia Stinger which made its debut in 2017, showing us that the company was capable of making a sporty premium saloon. Only receiving minor updates through the years, Kia will soon stop production of the Stinger, sending it off with a 1,000-unit ‘Tribute Edition’.
The Tribute Edition is built on the 3.3-litre twin turbo V6 GT version of the Kia Stinger and provides several aesthetic enhancements. Special body colours on the Tribute Edition include Ascot Green and a new Moonscape matter gray colour. Adding a sinister touch to the 1,000-unit special are black side mirrors that match with the black Brembo brake callipers. The Stinger Trbute Edition sits on a set of 19-inch gloss back design wheels.
Inside, the Kia Stinger Tribute Edition gets a bespoke Teracotta brown leather interior that can be seen on the steering wheel, door side trims, and door handles. The console upper cover and the door panels get a carbon-effect finish to complement the new Teracotta leather trim.
A new wasp-shaped emblem is embedded into the headrest of the seats. It denotes the car’s name and signifies the potent 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 gasoline engine. The application of a numbered door sill plate on the driver’s side provides authentication of exclusivity, confirming that just 1,000 units of the Tribute Edition will be built globally.
Back in 2018, the Kia Stinger was launched in Malaysia in a ‘GT Line’ and ‘GT’ version. The GT Line Kia Stinger was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that made 251 hp and 353 Nm. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all power was sent to the rear wheels.
Up a tier, the ‘GT’ version of the Kia Stinger was powered by a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that made 365 hp and 510 Nm. Also paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, power was sent to all wheels and the Stinger launched from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.
Kia Stinger when it was previewed in Malaysia in 2018
Kia CX Design sub-division Senior Vice President and Head of Purchase, Chang Sung Ryu said, “As we enter a new age of mobility, Kia will satisfy the needs of customers who seek to enjoy elevated levels of dynamic driving pleasure through high-performance electrified models such as the EV6 GT. And the brand’s strategy to continue accelerating the development of innovative electrification technologies will ensure that sustainability and strong performance combine effortlessly under the Kia badge.”