Kia GT4 Stinger, potential Twin beater???

[immaculate]

I really don't understand the styling. I like the side profile (minus that side vent). I don't care for the front or rear at all. I'm hopeful that if it does go to production, a lot of these more radical aspects will be watered down into something more traditional that may actually look good.

Then again, f it goes to production with anything close to the listed specs and expected price, nobody will care how it looks. Any competition in this segment is welcomed though.

[ThisIsChrisKim]

Originally Posted by thill

They (the Koreans) have come a long way quickly. But having owned a Gencoupe and having driven in the last year an Elantra, Veloster, Optima (turbo), and Sonata (turbo) I can tell you they may have the styling, technology, etc down but they still need work with regards to suspension, gearbox, handling, etc. They are getting better, but they have a ways to go. I have no doubt that they can't get there, but it also seems like the Koreans like to focus on specs alone and not on driver feel.

My sister owns a Hyundai (Sonata), my parents have a Toyota (Camry), Nissan (Rogue), and Honda (CR-V), and comparing the apples to apples comparisons, I think they're all about equal. To me, the Nissan feels the cheapest on the inside. The engine/transmission is busy. The Toyota has the smoothest transmission. The Hyundai has the most power/smoothness. So there's a number of highs/lows for each car, but I think if you covered all the emblems up, the average Joe would have a tough time telling each one apart and how different each car is. Companies tend to benchmark each other all the time and make it so that they all feel and resemble each other.

I say the Koreans are right there because with the exception of the GenCoupe which doesn't have the best gearbox or steering in the world, the other cars are, for the most part, just commuter (non-enthusiast) cars. I would say they compare very favorably to Toyota's or Nissan's lineup of cars. Honda (debatable), Mazda, and Subaru are companies that get more of the 'intangibles' right for enthusiasts. But their general overall lineup is totally competitive and competent for most people. Just maybe not enthusiasts. But to be fair, I think most companies have a hard time dialing it just right and perfection is a moving target.

But I did mention in my previous post that Hyundai still hasn't gotten the 'intangibles' down yet. That's more of the steering feel and gear box stuff, driving experience, etc. They don't have much experience in that area, so it's expected that their first few tries might not be home runs.

[DarkSunrise]

Read an interview with Tom Kearns, the project team leader for the GT4 Stinger project. Interesting to hear how he brings up the FR-S/BRZ as inspirations for this project:

Why do it now?
It's kind of hard to ignore there's this Scion FR-S and the Subaru BRZ. And we actually like those cars. We think they're great, affordable enthusiast cars that you can mod. One time, we went to the track, and I don't know if there was a club there or what, but we saw like 25 of them lined up, and we were like, this is what Kia needs to be into. We're not yet, so that was the idea behind the concept.

Given what he says about loving the purity and connection of lightweight RWD cars at the track (like 1g Miatas or old-school Porsche 911s), I've got some measure of confidence that this car has the potential to be great if it reaches production.

You can read the rest of the interview here:

http://jalopnik.com/the-kia-gt4-stin...671/@mspinelli

[thill]

Originally Posted by ThisIsChrisKim

My sister owns a Hyundai (Sonata), my parents have a Toyota (Camry), Nissan (Rogue), and Honda (CR-V), and comparing the apples to apples comparisons, I think they're all about equal. To me, the Nissan feels the cheapest on the inside. The engine/transmission is busy. The Toyota has the smoothest transmission. The Hyundai has the most power/smoothness. So there's a number of highs/lows for each car, but I think if you covered all the emblems up, the average Joe would have a tough time telling each one apart and how different each car is. Companies tend to benchmark each other all the time and make it so that they all feel and resemble each other.

I say the Koreans are right there because with the exception of the GenCoupe which doesn't have the best gearbox or steering in the world, the other cars are, for the most part, just commuter (non-enthusiast) cars. I would say they compare very favorably to Toyota's or Nissan's lineup of cars. Honda (debatable), Mazda, and Subaru are companies that get more of the 'intangibles' right for enthusiasts. But their general overall lineup is totally competitive and competent for most people. Just maybe not enthusiasts. But to be fair, I think most companies have a hard time dialing it just right and perfection is a moving target.

But I did mention in my previous post that Hyundai still hasn't gotten the 'intangibles' down yet. That's more of the steering feel and gear box stuff, driving experience, etc. They don't have much experience in that area, so it's expected that their first few tries might not be home runs.

Yes, I totally agree. They have the mass consumer car market figured out, but need more time to figure out the sports car segment.

Hyundai has made some very good engines the last few years that can really put down some power. And if they really are using the FT86 as a target goal in terms of handling and fun and can put a 300hp engine it it? I am all for it!

[mkivalex]

I also used to hate on Kia/Hyundai, but over the past few years the quality has jumped way up. I actually had a 2013 Elantra that I just wrote off and replaced with an FRS. Hands down the fit and finish on the Elantra was better than on the FRS. I wanted to hate the car because I regretted not buying the FRS the first time around, but it was hard to find things to dislike about the car (aside from it being very boring to drive). But the quality, driveability and so forth was excellent.


If Hyundai or Kia came out with a sports car that was worth buying, I would NOT hesitate based on concern of quality.

[swift996]

We need more affordable sports cars! I welcome the idea, love the specs...design needs some work.

[Hanni_0176]

I think the car looks really nice, and if they can manage to keep it near 2900 lbs curbweight with 315 hp at around $30k like it says in that article... this one would probably become a fan favorite. Foruntately, by the time this launches (2+ years), if it even makes it to production, it will be time for the FT86 refresh, and I imagine Toyota and Subaru would be ready and able to counter this Kia with a power upgrade of their own.

Is the Kia GT4 Stinger what was needed to force Toyota/Subaru to turbocharge the 86? Competition is always a good thing for consumers...

[rice_classic]

Chasing that "power upgrade" is a slippery slope for a manufacturer.

[Nasty Sausage]

I'd hit it.

[Boxer486]

Originally Posted by ZDan

McP struts are fine, but another benefit of wishbones besides geometry is that they allow a lower hoodline. I really hope the Kia makes it to market with the low hood and front fenders intact.

How do you expect double wishbones will provide a lower hoodline over a boxer4 than an inline4 which is both longer and taller? Especially when pedestrian safety standards require crumple space over the block which will make the hood even taller w/ an I-4. I don't see the wishbones being relevant for packaging at all here when the engine is going to be the problem anyway.

[tennisfreak]

If Toyota had never revealed the FT1 concept then I would likely be all over this KIA.

Now I will be holding out for the production version of the FT1 and until then will just be happy with my FR-S.

[gily25]

Lots more pics and details in this months car and driver.

[h4nh]

Looks hideous and its a Kia :/ no thx.

[Bonburner]

i just realized .. omg i want so bad on the twins haha