The 2022 Kia Stinger could be an instant classic

The Kia Stinger, you’ve probably heard, is the real deal, an honest challenger to a car like the BMW M340i. And cheaper too. On Tuesday, Kia confirmed that the base model will produce 300 horsepower, which is 45 horsepower more than the outgoing model, as we first heard in august. The Kia Stinger is heading for the ideal.

Not that 255 horsepower from the four-cylinder is anything to sniff at in the base 2021 model, and you can still upgrade to the twin-turbo V6 and get 365 horsepower. But, and maybe it’s just an aesthetic thing, 255 horsepower has always felt awfully close to the right amount of power, but just short and therefore insufficient. Three hundred and sixty-five horses, on the other hand, seemed to overcompensate a bit.

Which brings us to today, when Kia confirmed he had corrected his grave mistake. The base Stinger will get 300 horsepower from a 2.5-liter turbo four; this power will be transmitted by an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Kia is also very excited about the new LEDs.

• Standard LED headlights with new signature DRL or optional “Stinger-signature” LED daytime running lights and headlights
• Standard LED taillights connected by an eye-catching new taillight design that spans the full width of the tailgate; GT trims receive full LED treatment with LED turn signals
• New 18- and 19-inch wheel designs defined by thin, technical geometric shapes
• More aggressive tailpipe design for improved visual appeal

I’m more excited about the Scorpion version, which will come in addition to the GT-Line, GT1 and GT2 versions.

The Scorpion Special Edition set to arrive in late spring further accelerates Stinger’s appeal with:

• Certain exterior colors: snow white, aurora black and ceramic silver
• Rear spoiler
• Blackened fender trim, blackened side mirror caps and exhaust tips
• Unique black wheels
• Carbon fiber patterned interior trim

Kia says it has also managed to generate three more horsepower on the V6 in the higher trims, as it now produces 368 horsepower, but the fact that the base reaches 300 horsepower destroys part of this engine’s appeal. Both are available in rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive configurations, gas mileage suffers slightly in the four-cylinder version of the latter. The four-cylinder version gets a combined 25 mpg in rear-wheel drive, and a combined 24 mpg in all-wheel drive, while the V6 gets a combined 20 mpg in both. Still, the four-cylinder’s numbers are just as good as the outgoing 255-horsepower engine.

The Kia Stinger 2022 also has most if not all of the driver assistance systems fitted on modern cars, such as adaptive cruise control and various collision warnings and a lane change assist system, all optional. .

Here’s how each version of the 2022 Kia Stinger will start:

We are rapidly approaching the time when automakers will manufacture their last cars with internal combustion engines, given the large industry-wide shift to electric. Or maybe we aren’t, and automakers will keep a niche business on the ICE car side for enthusiasts. Either way, the 2022 Kia Stinger feels both timeless and also a bit like an already relic, a 300-horsepower rear-wheel-drive sports sedan. Enjoy as it lasts.