Posts Tagged ‘sports car’
Comparison of Kia Stinger and Dodge Charger
Tuesday, March 12th, 2019
Back when the 2018 Kia Stinger first came out, we were blown away. So was everyone else with how many awards the Kia Stinger won from the day of its debut and throughout the year. We also wanted to let consumers know that, although the Kia Stinger is on the luxury end of sports cars, it still makes a good case for four-door family sedans, and if looking for something similar but a smaller price tag, the Kia Optima is a good choice. Speaking of four-door family cars, the 2019 Dodge Charger is also making a testament to the class segment, and with both sports cars here at Miami Lakes Automall, we think family cars are here to stay.
More Power!
For now, anyways. With Dodge going electric in the coming model years, stating that 2020 will see some hybrid options, possibly with the Challenger or Charger nametag, it might be a good time to look at getting a four-door family car while it can still be called a sports car. Yes, although both vehicles have some pretty standard powertrains, a four-cylinder turbo in the Stinger and the 3.6-liter V6 in the Charger, many would still call them sports cars, and there’s a pretty obvious reason why – potential.
Sure, the base Kia Stinger trim comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood, able to generate 255 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It may not have the same oomph of the 365-horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine under the hood of the Stinger GT trims, but it still has launch. The vehicle drivers like a sports car with either powertrain, and with all-wheel drive, the Stinger can handle a variety of road conditions.
Kia Motors Connecting with a Younger Generation
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019
Kia Motors is sure one major auto brand that talks to the younger generations when it comes to the evolution of the automaker. One of the first vehicles to get the attention of the youth was the Kia Soul hatchback. The next was the new sports car, the Kia Stinger, currently the automaker’s new icon. Just last week, Kia Motors surprised us with its sponsorship of the eSports European Championship for popular PC game, League of Legends. Actually trying to connect with the next generation of consumers instead of designing what they think we want (Chrysler Portal *cough cough), Kia has more plans to get the winning vote of Millennials and Generation Z.
The Great Unknowns Scholarship
With the Super Bowl only weeks away, every major consumer and automotive brand out there will be battling to get those highly sought-after commercial spots. To continue the trend of being for the youth, Kia Motors is putting aside the tried-and-true method of overpaying a well-known celebrity to endorse their brand. This year, it’s about the kids, the future of our country.
Launching what Kia Motors calls the “The Great Unknowns Scholarship,” it’s described as a means to “help young people in need get a foothold in higher education.” It’s not something revolutionary, using an ad seen by the thousands of people watching the Super Bowl is a great way for anyone to get their name out there, for nearly any cause. Last year, Hyundai ran an ad promoting nonprofit group, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, that distributes a small portion of proceeds from every Hyundai vehicle purchased to institutions fighting childhood cancer. Kia Motors, a corporate affiliate of the Hyundai Motor Group, is doing the same this year.
BLACKPINK
Ever hear of the South Korean girl group, BLACKPINK? Maybe not, but South Korean girl bands and K-Pop groups are really becoming increasingly popular. Ever since Korean star Psy and his popular Gangnam Style music video went viral, people have been looking over east for new music stars. BLACKPINK is one of those musical groups, currently revving up for their 2019 World Tour. Kia Motors has chosen to serve as their sponsor, hence the picture above with the group posing with a Kia Stinger.
The partnership with BLACKPINK is surprisingly the first in a series of collaborations Kia will be announcing with K-Pop superstars this year (2019). As the title sponsor of the group’s World Tour, Kia Motors will hold a series of experiential events throughout the duration of the tour, some of which will give local fans a chance to meet the K-Pop stars. The World Tour runs from January 2019 on a global scale, including seven cities in Asia.
League of Legends European Championship
Kia Motors is also sponsoring a well-known event amongst PC gamers. It’s the European Championship for League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game for PC and Mac computers. Connecting with eSports and eSports fans on this level is a large win for the automaker. Video games have created a whole new community of people, and getting their attention will be a win for Kia.
Throughout 2019, Kia Motors will be creating digital content with a six video series media campaign to advertise the championship, as well as their involvement. A short promotional segment titled “Ready to Play” has already gone live. Popular faces from the League of Legends world, Romain Bigeard, Indiana ‘Froskurinn’ Black, Daniel ‘Drakos’ Drakos, Aaron ‘Medic’ Chamberlain, and Andrew ‘Vedius’ Day head out to attend the LEC in the Kia Stinger sports car.
Connecting with the next generation of the auto market should be the focus of all automakers going forward. Kia Motors already has a great start. Check out all the great vehicles Kia Motors has at Miami Lakes Kia.
Photo Source/Copyright: marketing-interactive.com
What Makes the Kia Stinger an Icon?
Tuesday, December 18th, 2018
When it comes to the Kia Stinger sports car, it was some spectacle when it first released in early 2018. The 2018 Kia Stinger was the first model year for the new vehicle, and it instantly won many awards. Actually, the Kia Stinger won awards all year. It’s one car that breaks the sports car mold, and the Kia Stinger is faster and more affordable than many of its competitors. With all of this going for it, one has to wonder…Why wouldn’t Kia Motors name this their new halo car? With a new Kia GT-Line set for the icon of the brand in 2020, let’s look at the 2018 Kia Stinger GT, the car that started it all.
So Much Style
First off, it doesn’t matter what tier is being driven. Whether behind the wheel of the Kia Stinger base trim (2.0L) or the high-tier GT2, this sports car is turning heads wherever it goes. Designed by the award-winning designer, Peter Schreyer, not only does the Kia Stinger command attention, but it also incites a lot of curiosity. Not many consumers are used to the blend of luxury and performance aesthetics when it comes to Kia Motors.
The fastback shape is so popular, it’s bleeding into other Kia models going forward. Because standard features are shared so well across the lineup, it’s hard to point out anything that makes the GT trim more stylish than the others. They all deserve a little praise.
How the Kia Stinger Breaks the Sports Car Mold
Wednesday, July 4th, 2018
Is there really anything else we can say about the 2018 Kia Stinger that hasn’t been said already? The 2018 Kia Stinger Continues to Win Awards from all sorts of big names in the industry, most recently the interior of the Kia Stinger Won the 10 Best Interiors Trophy from WardsAuto and was named by the U.S. News & World Report for “Best Four-Door Sports Cars”. The 2018 Kia Stinger is also an affordable sports car that beats the competition of expensive and “fast” vehicles. Is there really anything else? Well, sometimes it takes a keen eye and a little curiosity to notice the smaller things that make this sports car something unique.
Style
Let’s talk about style. The 2018 Kia Stinger is one sexy-looking machine, mechanophilia’s rejoice! Not only is the Kia Stinger immediately recognizable, but it can attract car enthusiasts and sports car lovers within a 50-foot radius (this actually happened, no joke). But there is something quite obvious about the Kia Stinger that we’d like to mention. The 2018 Kia Stinger is a sports car – not an SUV, not a crossover, not a truck. Thank the Automotive Gods we don’t have to deal with another SUV or crossover. Sure, the auto market is shifting towards crossovers, but we don’t all want a big car. So it’s nice to see a change by a well-known and loved automotive brand, Kia Motors.
And do you know why the 2018 Kia Stinger won the “10 Best Interiors Trophy from WardsAuto”? It could be because every trim of the Kia Stinger features leather upholstery; or because the Stinger, yet elegant, roomy, and athletic, takes some cues from the popular Kia Optima for a roomy and comfortable cabin; or because the interior is designed intuitively, giving drivers a sense of a second skin or an extension of themselves. Now that is something you won’t hear about most automobiles.
Two Kia Hybrids and the Kia Stinger Named by U.S. News
Thursday, June 21st, 2018
Kia Motors is super popular as of late. Many organizations and news sources, including the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and U.S. News & World Report, are heralding many Kia vehicles. Two of Kia Motors’ newest vehicles, the Kia Stinger and the Kia Niro were both named on a list by U.S. News & Report, along with the Kia Optima Hybrid. Both, the Kia Optima Hybrid and the Niro hybrid crossover were also named on the same list. Can you guess what list? It has to do with their fuel type.
U.S. News List of Best Hybrids
Yes, the 2018 Kia Niro and 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid have both been named on the U.S. News & World Report’s list of best hybrids on the auto market today. Cheers! If thinking about making the switch to a more eco-friendly way of driving, then one of these hybrids is the ticket to get going. Looking for the flexibility of a crossover, or is the handling and a control of a sedan a better fit? It all comes down to lifestyle.
We can understand why both of these Kia Motors vehicles made the list. To start, the Kia Niro is the world’s first hybrid crossover. Powered by a combination of two different power sources working together, an internal combustion, or a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, and a 1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery and generator attached to an electric motor. Together, the hybrid system produces 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, U.S. News & World Report points out the substantial fuel economy not normally found on larger vehicles.
“It’s EPA rated to earn up to 52 mpg in the city and 49 mpg on the highway. If you want to get that kind of mileage, however, you’ll want to opt for the base model … Also making the Niro stand out from competitors in the SUV hybrid world, was the model’s offering of a six-speed automatic transmission, one of only a few hybrids that feature it” – John Vincent, writer of U.S. News & World Report.
Comparison of the 2018 Kia Stinger and Kia Optima
Monday, June 4th, 2018
Man, we love the new 2018 Kia Stinger. We love how the Kia Stinger wins so many awards, most recently for best interior by WardsAuto, and we loved throwing a little dirt at all the expensive fast cars that can’t match the Kia Stinger GT. The 2018 Kia Stinger GT is also pretty affordable … but what if looking for a Kia vehicle as cool as the Stinger, without the powerful engine and maybe a smaller price tag? Maybe a gift for a new teen driver that isn’t crazy about hatchbacks like the Kia Soul? The 2018 Kia Optima is said to be a bit of a luxury sedan, and we’re going to show you why with a comparison between the Kia Optima and the Kia Stinger.
Powertrain
Both Kia models have five trims, with the Kia Optima lineup consisting of the LX, S, LX 1.6T, EX, and EX trims, and the Kia Stinger lineup with the 2.0L, Premium, GT, GT1, and GT2 trims. Three engine options are available on the 2018 Kia Optima, with the base starting at $22,600*, powered by a 2.4-liter DOHC inline 4-cylinder engine optimized by dual continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) for better performance and fuel economy. This vehicle can generate 185 horsepower and, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission, has a fuel economy of 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. The Kia Stinger 2.0L starts at $31,900* and is powered by a twin scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine, also optimized with CVVT. The Stinger 2.0L can generate 255 horsepower, is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and has a fuel economy of 22/29 mpg city/highway if driving on rear-wheel drive – 21/29 mpg city/highway if opting in for all-wheel drive, for another $2,200.
Fast and Expensive Cars that Can’t Match the 2018 Kia Stinger
Friday, May 18th, 2018
The 2018 Kia Stinger has a lot going for it. A new sports car from Kia Motors, many wanted to get their hands on the Stinger to make modified versions, one of which popped up at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. Kia Stinger Limited Editions were also released by Kia Motors a year after its debut to celebrate their newest addition and achievement. The 2018 Kia Stinger has won many awards since its release, and most recently was just named by WardsAuto for the “Best Interior Trophy.” With a starting MSRP of $31,900*, the 2018 Kia Stinger is more affordable than many expensive cars known to drag race. The Kia Stinger GT is even faster, and we’re going to pit it against some of the fastest cars that should probably rethink their price tag when the affordable Kia Stinger GT does laps around them.
Kia Stinger GT
Starting at $38,350*, the middle trim of the 2018 Kia Stinger lineup is the Kia Stinger GT. Powered by a twin turbocharged 3.3-liter DOHC V6 engine that can generate 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, the Kia Stinger GT has a powertrain optimized for success and high performance. The DOHC design stands for “Double Overhead Camshaft”, and it’s a design that basically splits the work of an engine’s cylinders (six in this case) in half to take stress off the engine and allow it to perform more smoothly. This engine has also been optimized with continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) technology to increase the frequency the V6 cylinders intake gas and air and exhaust the resulting fumes, and uses gasoline direct injection for faster fuel delivery into the combustion chamber. Idle Stop and Go has also been integrated to save fuel economy when the engine idles, such as in stop-and-go traffic.
The 2018 Kia Stinger GT is said to have a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds. We know it’s power, and we know it’s price. Now take a look at some of its competitors that think “high-performance” equates to “more expensive.”
Porsche Panamera
Yeah, we all know a Porsche is a “great car”, maybe even one of luxury given the starting price of $86,050 (dang!) And that’s for the standard trim; the trim we’re putting up against the 2018 Kia Stinger GT starts at $90,650 and is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine that can only generate 330 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque (lol, really?) All that money for a weaker engine that accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds? Pffft, next!
Kia, Chrysler, and Chevy Models Named on Ward’s Best 10 Engines List
Tuesday, December 19th, 2017
Three brands at Miami Lakes Automall were named on the 2017 Ward’s 10 Best Engines list, and we’re proud to say the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, and the Kia Stinger are both on the lot.
Ward’s is an American organization that discusses news happening in the auto industry, ranging from the industry itself to notable engines, vehicle interiors, technology, and more. For more than 80 years, Ward’s has been covering such news and holds its own awards, in the form of lists, where an auto brand, vehicle, or piece of tech may be named as one of Ward’s “10 Best.” Every year there’s a list for several different categories, and recently, Ward’s published its “10 Best Engines” list.
For the “10 Best Engines” list, WardsAuto editors chose the winners from 32 engines and electric hybrid systems, and the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, and the 2018 Kia Stinger were all included on the list.
