Kia Reveals 2022 Kia Stinger

Kia Motors has been having some interesting releases as of late. The reveal of the automaker’s first all-electric vehicle with no precursor, the EV6 , had an early preview last week, and multiple looks at the luxury sport sedan Kia K8 are starting to surface. It’s been a busy month for Kia Motors, and another reveal has already jumped into the spotlight. Teased earlier in March, the 2022 Kia Stinger has finally been revealed after its mid-cycle refresh.

New Power Output

We knew the base engine was getting a small upgrade. The 2022 Kia Stinger is available in GT-Line, GT1, and GT2 trims, plus a special edition Scorpion model set for release – release date TBD. The GT-Line is a part of the Kia Motors GT-Line , one of the many plans the automaker has launched alongside its electric vehicles (EVs) and purpose-built vehicles (PBVs). The GT-Line base trim gets a new 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine under the hood, able to generate 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. With rear-wheel drive (RWD) standard or all-wheel drive (AWD) with torque vectoring available, the fuel economy is estimated at 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway with RWD, a combined fuel economy of 24 mpg with AWD.

The rest of the lineup comes with a GT 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, able to generate 368 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, available with the same drivetrain options, all trims also come with an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. A new electronic variable exhaust system enhances the sound of the Stinger as it revs up and takes off. The GT1 and GT2 trims have a fuel economy of 18 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway with RWD, and a combined 20 mpg fuel economy with AWD.

Styling

The inside of the Stinger was always a grand slam right out of the park. Not a lot of changes were made to it, but the details are there. For the exterior, some standard features have been added, such as LED headlamps with a new DRL signature and rear LED taillamps with a new taillight design that spans across the entire liftgate. “Stinger-signature” LED DRLs and headlights are optional in place of the headlamps, and GT trims get a little extra with LED turn signals added on to complete the LED package. The wheels also changed for 2022, now with new 18- and 19-inch wheel designs.

Interior upgrades reside mainly with the new technology, but the instrument panel comes with new gloss and chrome detailing. Nappa leather upholstery can be found in the high-end GT trims with a new chain link” design, and like many Kia Motors vehicles, the Stinger offers ambient LED mood cabin lighting with an array of vibrant colors to choose from. The Scorpion Special Edition, coming soon, has its own unique features, such as a rear spoiler; blacked out fender garnish, side mirror caps, exhaust tips, and wheels; and an interior carbon fiber pattern. Available in Snow White, Aurora Black, and Ceramic Silver, we’re sure there will be more additions than announced.

Tech and Safety

Like the next-gen K5 and Kia Sorento, the Stinger gets a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen display with navigation, Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, multi-connection Bluetooth wireless connectivity, split-screen functionality, a wireless charger, and a larger 4.2-inch color TFT center cluster. A 7-inch center cluster is available and adds to the safety features with an available Surround View Monitor. A Harman/Kardon premium audio system is still available, and UVO link telematics offers some newfeatures to keep the consumer and the car connected.

Such telematics features include a new cloud-based route calculation system for navigation, as well as connected weather forecasts and voice commands to control the vehicle’s climate, seat and steering-wheel heating, audio system, and more. Consumers can create user profiles and accounts for more than one driver, if they choose to share. With Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, consumers can also control some features, such as remote start while walking to the front door instead of fumbling for the phone or keys.

That’s just the beginning of convenience Kia offers. Also available with on-demand Find My Car with a Surround View Monitor, never forget where the car is parked. Last Mile Navigation provides walking directions right up to the entrance or general vicinity of an establishment, and Valet Mode locks the Stingers touchscreen to keep personal information out of sight. A neat feature is syncing one’s calendar with the cloud, complete with driving directions to said event if provided with an address for the event.

The new Stinger comes with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that offer a variety of new and common safety features. Many consumers may already be familiar with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, and Highway Driving Assist. Safe Exit Warning is slowly making its way into vehicles to help alert the driver and passengers if it’s not safe to exit the vehicle, such as in parallel parking situations. Also new is Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, which is just as it sounds – smart cruise control that also follows GPS navigation directions and uses information from the nav to proactively slow down the vehicle for turns, loops, or speed limit changes.

New for 2022, the Kia Stinger got quite the refresher. With the K5 and Sorento setting a new standard, it just makes sense to bring the Kia sports car up to speed. Look for the 2022 Kia Stinger and the Scorpion Special Edition in the late spring at Miami Lakes Automall Kia .

Photo Source/Copyright: Kia Media

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