Kia Stinger twin-turbo V6 to start at $48,990

KIA Motors Australia (KMAu) has confirmed a $48,990 before on-roads opening salvo for the most affordable twin-turbo V6-powered version of its highly anticipated Stinger muscle car – and a sub-$60K starting price for the flagship GT – ahead of the all-new rear-drive performance model’s showroom arrival in October.

In a move that the company says is designed to provide clarity to customers who have placed orders for the Korean car-maker’s brand-boosting sports sedan, Kia has announced pricing details of the three variants that feature a 3.3-litre bi-turbo V6 that develops 272kW of power and 510Nm – and, with the help of a launch control system, can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.9 seconds.

The Stinger S is priced from $48,990 plus on-road costs, rising to $55,990 for the mid-series Si before topping out at $59,990 for the flagship GT.

Full specification details for the Stinger are still to be provided, along with pricing for the 190kW/353Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder models that will take the entry price for the model range down to around $40,000.

Four-cylinder pricing is expected closer to the Stinger’s media launch, which takes place next month.

KMAu general manager of media and corporate communications Kevin Hepworth told GoAuto today that more than 100 customers had put down deposits for the Stinger – almost exclusively for the top-of-the-range GT.

“At last count we are holding something over 100 deposit-paid orders,” he said. “Of those, 99 per cent are for GT.” Mr Hepworth said vehicle allocation numbers had not yet been firmed, but admitted that “it will be tight given the expected order banks from other markets”.

“We are working hard on keeping wait times within reason,” he said.

In a statement, KMAu chief operating officer Damien Meredith said: “It was critical for us to bring this car to as wide an audience as possible – something I believe we have achieved with the pricing we have been able to settle on.

“From the outset, it was a goal to get a bi-turbo V6 into the market under $50,000. We have done that with room to spare.” Mr Meredith added that the decision to announce Stinger V6 pricing ahead of its October showroom arrival was made “to provide confidence to the substantial number of buyers who have shown faith in putting down a deposit without knowing a final price”.

"Almost all of the confirmed orders are for the 3.3-litre, so it makes sense to provide those customers with as much clarity as we can while they wait to take possession of their new cars,” he said.

A dealer product bulletin leaked a couple of months back confirmed that the Stinger range will be split evenly with three variants for each of the two powertrains.

The same S and Si variants for the V6 are anticipated for the four-cylinder versions, plus a range-topping ‘GT-Line’ – as opposed to the bona fide GT – which will have GT-like styling but do without the performance features that have attracted so much interest in the V6 flagship.

For the V6 range, the bulletin indicated that all variants will share mechanical details that, in addition to the powertrain, include a high-performance Brembo braking package, limited-slip differential and variable-ratio steering system.

At S level, count on keyless entry/start, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, heavily bolstered sports seats (with faux leather inserts) and a 7.0-inch multimedia display unit with satellite navigation.

The Si will take a step up with key driver-assist safety equipment fitted standard, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and intelligent cruise control.

The extra outlay over the Si will also bring an uprated stereo, leather upholstery, a larger multimedia display and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The GT will have an extra layer of exclusivity with features such as driver-selectable suspension modes, higher-level technology including blind-spot monitoring and a head-up display, advanced LED headlights, a top-shelf stereo and plush seating arrangements (including Nappa leather and full electric adjustment) – all of which points to a huge bang for your buck for the sub-$60,000 statement piece of the Stinger range.

2017 Kia Stinger V6 pricing*

S (a)	$48,990
Si (a)	$55,990
GT (a)	$59,990

*Excludes on-road costs