The Stinger GT2 was a unique jewel in Kia’s crown – the only sports car in its history as a carmaker. Filling in the shoes of the most desirable ICE car was not easy, as Kia is widely known only for its mass-oriented profile of cars and SUVs. But then came the all-new EV6 GT in 2022, which began the scripting of Stinger GT2’s end. For the desirable Kia Stinger GT2, the all-electric Kia EV6 GT has already become a ‘silent killer’ (pun intended).
There’s a great saying – ‘two swords cannot fit in the same sheath’. The EV6 GT and Stinger GT2 are two swords trying to be the most desirable and powerful car from Kia. The inevitable future of electric vehicles and the age of the Stinger GT2 were solid reasons forcing Kia to pull the plug on the Stinger GT2. However, there are a few reasons ensuring that the Stinger GT2 will not be missed much due to the arrival of the fantastic and futuristic EV6 GT. We will put some light on those reasons below, one by one.
Performance Numbers Proving The EV6 GT Over The Stinger GT2
They say – ‘actions speak louder than words’, and so do numbers too. In 2022, Kia introduced the EV6 GT as the new range-topping, full-blown avatar of its first ground-up, born electric car. It arrived with two electric motors – a 160 kW motor at the front and a 270 kW motor at the rear – giving it an all-wheel drive configuration.
The results? Kia claims a combined 576 hp and a 0-60 mph sprint timing of 3.4 seconds. These figures are enough to threaten full-blown sportscars like Ferrari Roma and Lamborghini Huracan, which Kia proved in one of its claims based on a third-party test conducted by AMCI. In addition to all the power on tap, the EV6 GT also gets ‘Drift Mode’ for additional power distribution to rear wheels, resulting in more sideways fun around corners.
With these performance figures, the 2023 EV6 GT has become the new performance benchmark at Kia, a position previously held by the Stinger GT. Powered by a 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, the Kia Stinger GT2 claims 368 hp, in addition to the 0-60 mph timing of 5.4 seconds. These figures are strong enough to let one know how fast and powerful the EV6 GT is over the Stinger GT.
Even Kia Insiders Think The EV6 GT Is Superior To The Stinger GT2
Kia plans to launch fourteen new electric vehicles by 2027, and the 2023 EV6 GT is leading the front by being the fastest and most powerful offering ever from Kia. With the days of ICE cars numbered, investing heavily in a vehicle as niche as the underrated Stinger GT2 sedan was not worth it in terms of revenue. The EV6 GT might not be a direct replacement for the Stinger GT2. However, the fact that the EV6 GT overpowers the four-door sports sedan in performance makes it a suitable alternative to taking the baton of performance forward at Kia.
The head of design at Kia, Karim Habib, who is also responsible for the stunning look of the EV6, believes that while the Stinger GT2 is going into history books, its spirit remains in the EV6 GT. With Kia’s growing focus on electrification, it was only a matter of time before people wished to witness a new hero from Kia. And with the EV6 GT, Kia hasn’t disappointed too.
New-Found Love For Electric Crossovers Over Conventional Sedans
The 2023 Kia EV6 GT arrived at the right time when the world is transitioning itself from ICE technology to fully-electric cars. Like other carmakers, even Kia has massive plans for a full-scale switch towards electric vehicles, which had a brilliant start with the EV6. And now, by introducing the full-blown GT variant, Kia wants us to believe that it is considering full-blown performance for its future cars.
Another reason why the Kia EV6 GT makes more sense over the Kia Stinger GT2 is the changing preference of car buyers. While people loved owning four-door sedans before and considered them a de-facto choice, that belief is now ruled by modern-day SUVs and crossovers. The added practicality, comfortable drivability over rougher surfaces, futuristic design, and road presence helped the SUV-like EV6 GT as a better in-trend vehicle.
The arrival of the Stinger four-door sports saloon was a transformative moment for Kia, as the Korean carmaker was busy making compact hatchbacks, sedans, and SUVs before it. In the same way, the advent of EV6 GT is writing a new chapter in Kia’s history – the beginning of excellence in battery electric technology.