The Kia Stinger may be fresh in your memory but the product itself has been in production since 2017, so a mid-cycle update it about due. That’s what we got news of this morning from their official website.
For the 2021 Model Year, the Kia Stinger will sport a refreshed design that leans heavily into its sport character. It also gets a better interior with more customisation options in terms of colour and material. If at all this new Stinger comes to Malaysia, it’s likely the customisation options won’t be available.
New Exterior Design
The first thing of note is the revised ‘tiger nose‘ grille and new reflector LED headlamps with new DRLs. The headlamps are darker than before and look more modern and more aggressive too.
The rear combination lamps are also new with a new light signature. They’re a lot wider now and mirror the shape of the spoiler on the trunk lid. The turn signals on this new Stinger are made of 10 LEDs on each side arranged in a chequered flag pattern. There’s also a new rear diffuser.
New, side-bore bright silver finished exhaust mufflers are available, as are new 19″ alloy rims, though the standard 18″ alloys are new too. A range of additional paint colours are being made available as well. And if you like it more menacing, there’s a ‘Dark Package’ that blacks-out many trim pieces.
New Interior
The overall shape of the interior is the same, but there are better materials throughout. The steering wheel now features a metallic finish. The 7″, fully-digital instrument cluster now has a chrome bezel surrounding it. The new rear-view mirror is frameless.
Contrast stitching is optional, trim pieces can be optioned with a aluminium OR carbon fibre look. An upgraded 10.25″ infotainment unit is present in the centre. Ambient lighting is a new feature in this updated Stinger.
A new seat pattern, and Nappa leather, and 3 leather finishes are available too.
For more, check out the press release below.
PRESS RELEASE
Kia Motors Corporation has released the first images of the upgraded Kia Stinger today, revealing a refreshed design for the high-performance fastback sports sedan. Changes to the appearance of the enhanced model amplify its gran turismo character, while improving cabin quality and giving owners more choice of color and material.
The upgraded model boasts a range of design updates, inside and out. Outside, the changes add a new touch of drama to the car’s design and give buyers more options for customization; inside, the upgraded Stinger offers a more comfortable space in which to travel, with a revised design, new higher-quality materials, and updates to the infotainment system.
A modernized, more muscular exterior appearance
At the front of the Stinger, Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille sits between new multifaceted reflector LED headlamps, with a new design and LED daytime running lights. The new lamps appear darker and sleeker with the lights out, while giving the car a more high-tech light signature, with sharp slashes of light angled slightly towards the front of the car.
At the rear, a svelte new rear combination lamp displays a distinctive new light signature, extending the full width of the car and mimicking the shape of the subtle spoiler integrated into the trunk lid. The new turn signals comprise a collection of 10 individual LED units each, arranged in a grid pattern to mimic the appearance of a checkered flag, used in motorsport to signal the end of a race.
Buyers of more powerful examples of the Stinger now have the option to specify larger wide-bore bright silver exhaust mufflers, with a more purposeful, performance-inspired rear diffuser to give the car a more muscular rear appearance.
Two new 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels are also introduced, with intricate, geometric designs which enhance the sporty, grand tourer nature of the car. The Stinger is now available with a new exterior color in many markets worldwide.
Two new exterior packages are also introduced for the first time. For high-performance variants in many markets worldwide, a new ‘Dark Package’ brings with it a gloss black diffuser surround and black wide-bore muffler tips. The Stinger emblem on the tailgate is also finished in black. For North America, a new ‘Black Package’ is offered, giving customization fans the chance to enhance the aesthetics of the Stinger further with an aggressive new look. The Black Package includes new 19-inch matte black lightweight wheels, a new rear wing for the trunk lid, and blacked out mirror caps and side fender trim.
A higher-quality cabin with new color options and an improved infotainment screen
While the architecture of the cabin in the upgraded Stinger remains unchanged, with a sweeping, driver-oriented dash and comfortable space for up to five occupants, it boasts a range of subtle enhancements. These visual and material upgrades are designed to improve the car’s grand touring ability, creating a more luxurious ambience.
The lower section of the steering wheel features a new metallic finish, matching the chrome bezel that now surrounds the 7.0-inch fully-digital instrument cluster. The latter is designed to provide crystal clear information to drivers via its high-definition display. The rear-view mirror is now frameless, creating a modern look and enhancing rear visibility.
Depending on specification, the dashboard and doors are finished with new contrast stitching, while the center console is available with aluminum or carbon fiber-style trim; both measures enhance the sporty nature of the cabin. Sitting atop the dash is Kia’s upgraded 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system, accented by a new glossy black finish along the front of the dash. The cabin also features a new mood lighting system, allowing drivers to select one of 64 colors to subtly alter the character of the cabin.
The Stinger is available with a new interior color and material options, depending on market. Customers in Korea can specify a new ‘Dark Brown’ monotone interior, with ultra-soft diamond quilted Nappa leather seats. For Kia’s global markets, new choices include Nappa leather upholstery finished in Saturn Black, Red or Beige, alongside existing leather and synthetic leather options. A new Saturn Black option finishes the seats in black suede with contrasting red stitching in a ‘chain’ pattern, designed to mimic the links in a watch strap.
More Stinger details to be revealed soon
The new Kia Stinger is due on-sale in Korea, during the third quarter of 2020; sales in many of Kia’s global markets will follow later. Kia will reveal more details about the upgraded Stinger soon, including its new powertrain line-up and technologies.
