Well, this is not too surprising. Kia is discontinuing the Stinger in the UK as the automaker prepares to launch the electric EV6 GT on the market. Kia first previewed the Stinger in 2011 before the production version arrived for the 2018 model year.
Over the past few years, there have been many reports and rumors predicting the death of the model. One recent report last month indicated that Kia was planning to end production of the Stinger in April next year. Sales of the Stinger in the automaker’s home country make it the company’s slowest selling model in South Korea.
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In announcing Stinger’s death in the UK, the automaker called it a “totemic car” for the company, which “served as a bold statement of intent for the brand.” It also helped introduce the Kia brand to new buyers and changed their perception. Kia UK president and CEO Paul Philpott said the Stinger would go down as a “transformative moment” for the automaker, which changed little in the 2010s.
Serving as a replacement for the Stinger in the UK market will be the electric Kia EV6 GT, “the ideal car to take the stick from the Stinger,” said Philpott. The EV6 GT produces 577 horsepower (430 kilowatts) and 546 pound-feet (740 Newton-meters) of torque. In 2021, Kia’s design boss hinted that the EV6 GT could serve as a replacement for the Stinger brand in the lineup. Kia will start shipping the EV6 GT in the UK before the end of the year.
The sporty sedan has never been a strong seller for the brand. Its best-selling year in the US was its first full year of sales in 2018. Since then, sales have leveled off around 13,000. Kia refreshed the car for the 2021 model year, revamped the exterior design, upgraded the cabin and revamped the powertrain selection. Kia added a new North American exclusive engine – a 300-horsepower (223-kilowatt) 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.
While Kia has stopped selling the Stinger in the UK, the automaker said production would continue in South Korea. It will also fulfill all existing customer orders for models in the UK.
