Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.

  1. When KIA introduced the Stinger several years back it received almost unanimously positive reviews. Unfortunately, its sales in the US failed to match KIA's expectations. I've always thought it had two problems. First, it preceded the Telluride by over a year and many KIA dealers had no idea how to sell a Euro-flavored GT sedan or a KIA with a price tag approaching or exceeding $50K. Simply put, the target market for the Stinger consisted of customers who had never walked through the front door of most KIA dealers. Second, the "Stinger" moniker brought forth images that suggested it was a Charger or Challenger competitor rather than an Audi or BMW rival in terms of performance and features. I suspect that if the Stinger had been introduced after the Telluride and possibly with a different name, e.g. euro-flavored K6, it might have fared better in terms of sales. In any event the 2022 version may present a second chance for the Stinger to make a first impression. Ironically, the most impressive news is not at the top end of the lineup but at the low end where the 2.5L turbo replaces the previous (relatively weak) 2.0L engine. With significantly improved performance compared to the previous offering, lighter weight and better weight distribution than the twin turbo V6 and with available AWD and a relatively small price premium over the FWD (only) K5 GT, I'm guessing it will be the volume sales leader. That would be a significant shift from the previous generation where the 2.0L version actually trailed the V6 in sales. As far as rivals are concerned I doubt the Stinger even with its strong value proposition will make as much of a dent in BMW, Audi, and Mercedes sales in the US as in Asia. But KIA's already improved brand image thanks to models like the Telluride and the new Sorento and K5 may well steal some sales that would otherwise go to Acura and Lexus sedans. The most obvious competitor is the VW Arteon "liftback" vs the 2.5L Stinger where the choice is between a relatively affordable true European GT sedan and a Korean interpretation of a European GT designed for Americans.
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  2.  @jacobrael9872  As I suggested I don't think KIA dealers had a clue about how to sell the Stinger when it was first introduced. The first generation base model was somewhat underpowered and the V6, while potent, wasn't designed to be an "muscle car" in the American sense. Hopefully the new generation will enjoy greater appeal.
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  3.  @jasonquinn4516  There are in effect two primary European competitors to the Stinger: the VW Arteon and the Audi A5. All three a 4 door "liftback" GT (i.e. Grand Touring) sedans. It's true that if one opts for the GT2 Stinger the MSRP is over $50K. But a comparison of the three in terms of engines/drivetrains/features if not in brand prestige suggests that a fully loaded GT-Line has an MSRP of about $42,000 vs the Audi at $54,000 and the Arteon at around $48,000. I wouldn't argue that the GT2 Stinger is a bargain unless one compares it with high end GT sedans with similar performance profiles and more luxurious features than the A5 or the Arteon. But the base GT-Line with the new 2.5L turbo and AWD is a screaming bargain compared to its most comparable vehicles from Europe or Japan.
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