THE Kia Stinger gives up after the 2024 model year and will leave the world with one less high-performance rear-wheel drive vehicle of a popular brand.
Kia has not announced plans for a direct replacement, but the automaker’s president, Ho-sung Song, revealed that such a vehicle is being investigated.
“This type of model is under study,” he said. Bus in an interview published Monday, when asked about a replacement for the Stinger. “What kind of model can help build the brand? That’s what we’re looking at now.”
Any replacement will likely be an EV, although Kia, along with sister brands Hyundai and Genesis, plan to introduce new hybrids to capitalize on the growing demand for the vehicles. In his interview with Autocar, Song said that most of Kia’s investments are in electric vehicles and this remains the company’s direction. So any brand-building model as a replacement for the Stinger will have to be an EV, if approved for production.
Song Ho-sung
Rumors of an electric Stinger replacement first surfaced in February. Alleged union documents contained details of production plans for an EV8 replacing the Stinger and the K8 mid-size sedan sold abroad.
According to these documents, the EV will be a large sedan with a 113.2 kWh battery, over 600 hp, and production starting around 2026.
Kia said in 2022 it plans to have 14 EVs in its lineup by the end of 2027including two pickup trucks and some purpose-built vehicles. In addition to the potential EV8, a EV4 compact hatchback and one PV5 medium van are known to be coming.
