A new four-cylinder unit is coming to North America with 300 horsepower on tap.
Having released images of its 2021 Stinger earlier this month, Kia is now ready to talk about what is going on underneath that sporty hood. The biggest news is the introduction of a new turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine exclusively for the North American market. It’s a 2.5-liter unit benefitting from direct-injection and produces 300 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and a peak torque of 311 pound-feet (422 Newton-meters) from 1,650 rpm.
Step up to the twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 of the Stinger GT and you’ll be rewarded with slightly more power than before. The engine itself has been carried over, but there’s a new electronic variable exhaust valve system unlocking an additional 3 hp for a grand total of 368 hp accessible at 6,000 rpm. Torque remains unchanged, at 376 lb-ft (510 Nm), available from 1,300 rpm. The six-cylinder mill provides a more aggressive soundtrack courtesy of a small butterfly valve in the exhaust that opens when the car is in the Sport driving mode. Switch to Eco or Comfort and the exhaust note is quieter.
Gallery: 2021 Kia Stinger facelift
The 2021 Stinger is keeping the entry-level 2.0-liter engine with 251 hp at 6,200 rpm and 260 lb-ft (353 Nm) from 1,400 rpm. Regardless of the engine you go for, all three are connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission to emphasize the vehicle’s GT nature.
Interestingly, Kia is not saying a word about the 2.2-liter turbodiesel offered for the pre-facelift model in Europe with 197 hp and 325 lb-ft (440 Nm). That one too was available with two pedals and buyers had to pick between a rear-wheel-drive layout with an optional limited-slip differential or AWD with torque vectoring.
The mid-cycle update comes with additional benefits as Kia’s excellent Blind-Spot View Monitor is being added, showing video feed straight into the digital instrument cluster. In addition, the 2021 Stinger adds Safe Exit Warning, Lane Following Assist, Highway Driving Assist, and Rear Occupant Alert. These join the previously announced novelties, including the 10.25-inch touchscreen optionally offered alongside a standard eight-inch setup.
The driver’s display in its basic form switches from the old 3.5-inch monochrome screen to a 4.2-inch color display, but you’ll probably want the optional seven-inch fully digital setup. Depending on the market, the Stinger will come with some new features, such as remote engine start and the possibility to use Kia’s UVO app to pre-heat the seats and turn on ventilation remotely.
Along with talking about the oily bits, Kia has also dropped a complete photo gallery of the Stinger for the South Korean market. The global version should look virtually identical, save for that “E” badge reserved for the KDM-spec model. It will go on sale locally in the third quarter of 2020, with global markets to follow by the end of the year.
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