Car & Driver' Wrote:The only transmission is a development of the K900’s automatic and uses a tuned-mass damper on the flywheel to help reduce torsional vibration through the drivetrain. The optional all-wheel-drive system features torque vectoring, while the rear-drive version has a standard limited-slip differential.

CaptainHenreh Wrote:I also dont' think anyone will buy one but a guy can hope.

Quote:But who’s going to buy this thing? That’s what I worry about. The last Optima I drove—again, a fine machine, and one I liked better than I thought I would!—was close to $40,000, loaded. This will clearly slot above that sedan, and in top-trim GT form with most of the boxes checked, will probably sticker in at the mid-$40,000 range. (To be clear that’s just an estimate on my part; pricing has not been announced, but after seeing this thing in person and sitting in it I can tell you that reasonably equipped it’s no $25,000 car.)

Who’s going to pay that much for a Kia? No matter how good it gets, it’s not a luxury brand, and it’s one with no performance credibility or heritage at all. Granted, you have to start somewhere, and the Stinger is exactly that. But it’s a very hard game to break into.

There’s also the matter of the dying sedan market. It’s no coincidence that almost all the cars you’ve seen out of the Detroit show today have been SUVs or boring crossovers. Those are the profit-makers now. Buyers are flocking away from sedans in droves. I hate to say it but Kia probably should have done this four or five years ago. Oh yeah, did you hear the Chevrolet SS is dead too? It is.

WRXtranceformed Wrote:

CaptainHenreh Wrote:I also dont' think anyone will buy one but a guy can hope.

It's not just you:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://jalopnik.com/im-worried-no-one-is-going-to-buy-the-2018-kia-stinger-1790997635">http://jalopnik.com/im-worried-no-one-i ... 1790997635</a><!-- m -->

Quote:But who’s going to buy this thing? That’s what I worry about. The last Optima I drove—again, a fine machine, and one I liked better than I thought I would!—was close to $40,000, loaded. This will clearly slot above that sedan, and in top-trim GT form with most of the boxes checked, will probably sticker in at the mid-$40,000 range. (To be clear that’s just an estimate on my part; pricing has not been announced, but after seeing this thing in person and sitting in it I can tell you that reasonably equipped it’s no $25,000 car.)

Who’s going to pay that much for a Kia? No matter how good it gets, it’s not a luxury brand, and it’s one with no performance credibility or heritage at all. Granted, you have to start somewhere, and the Stinger is exactly that. But it’s a very hard game to break into.

There’s also the matter of the dying sedan market. It’s no coincidence that almost all the cars you’ve seen out of the Detroit show today have been SUVs or boring crossovers. Those are the profit-makers now. Buyers are flocking away from sedans in droves. I hate to say it but Kia probably should have done this four or five years ago. Oh yeah, did you hear the Chevrolet SS is dead too? It is.

Ken Wrote:I don't think they plan on selling much, to be honest. Much like the Genesis was more or less a way for Hyundai to begin to forge into higher markets, the Stinger will do the same. They'd be idiots if they assume it's going to sell like hotcakes. IDK, depending on when it's released and how good the deals are when new, i'll take a gander.

JPolen01 Wrote:How about the Alfa Romeo Stelvio? Kind of reminds me of an X5, Macan, CX5 mashup.
280hp 2L turbo 4
505hp 433ft/lbs torque 2.9L TTV6 hock:
Doesn't look like pricing is on their site yet.

Ken Wrote:http://www.goaprplus.com/

Not sure if this is, "new" but this is pretty neat. I'll be looking at a car somewhat soon and a 320HP/TQ Golf R covered with a 5 year powertrain plus regular factory warranty sounds very tempting.

Ken Wrote:http://www.goaprplus.com/

Not sure if this is, "new" but this is pretty neat. I'll be looking at a car somewhat soon and a 320HP/TQ Golf R covered with a 5 year powertrain plus regular factory warranty sounds very tempting.

davej Wrote:

Ken Wrote:http://www.goaprplus.com/

Not sure if this is, "new" but this is pretty neat. I'll be looking at a car somewhat soon and a 320HP/TQ Golf R covered with a 5 year powertrain plus regular factory warranty sounds very tempting.

so is it just a softer tune blessed off by the dealer/warranty? I thought a stage 1 golf r apr tune put out 380/390ish?

Jake Wrote:Wow, the steering wheel in the GT is pretty ugly. Bummer given the rest of the styling.

(And yes, steering wheel/gauge cluster design is absolutely a dealbreaker for me)

davej Wrote:

Ken Wrote:http://www.goaprplus.com/

Not sure if this is, "new" but this is pretty neat. I'll be looking at a car somewhat soon and a 320HP/TQ Golf R covered with a 5 year powertrain plus regular factory warranty sounds very tempting.

so is it just a softer tune blessed off by the dealer/warranty? I thought a stage 1 golf r apr tune put out 380/390ish?