Today: 9:00AM - 8:00PM
Blog / News

How the Kia GT4 Stinger Challenges Sports Cars Everywhere

Kia GT4 Stinger at Union County Kia Charlotte, NC
Is it a Toyota GT-86? Is it a Subaru BRZ? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the Kia GT4 Stinger. This innovative Kia concept car, revealed back in 2014, immediately set the world abuzz with excitement. A sports coupe from Kia? People couldn’t wait for more. The GT4 Stinger’s specs were said to rival the Mazda MX-5 and Toyota GT-86 thanks to its 2.0L turbocharged engine, lightweight build, and low projected price tag. Kia designers took an interesting approach — perhaps even innovative in today’s market — when they designed the GT4 Stinger to embody the basics of sports cars. They added a red LED-illuminated instrument panel and racecar-inspired red pull straps in place of door handles. Kia even went so far as to not include a stereo, claiming it would bring the focus back to the road. Unfortunately for car enthusiasts everywhere, it seems like production of the GT4 Stinger has been put on indefinite pause. In a recent interview, Kia America’s head of product planning, Orth Hendrick, claims the market is just not strong enough to justify production of a sports coupe. While the GT4 Stinger may be put on permanent hold, Kia still plans to head in a sportier design direction with planned production of the GT concept.

You can still experience innovation at Union County Kia in Charlotte.

While you lament over possibly never getting to experience the GT4 Stinger and wait impatiently for production of the GT, you can still experience the Kia’s superior design in the 2016 Kia K900 luxury sedan. Similarly to both the GT4 Stinger and GT models, the K900 is rear-wheel drive. While it’s certainly no sports coupe, it brings the power with a 3.8L V6 engine that boasts 311 horsepower and 293 lb.-ft. of torque. The K900 does feature all of the luxury elements expected in a grand touring vehicle, including (but not limited to):
  • Lexicon® Discrete Logic7® Surround Sound System
  • Parking Assist
  • Front & Rear Camera Display
  • Lane Departure Warning System
While the 2016 Kia K900 differs in many ways to the GT4 Stinger, there’s no denying the high-quality experience thanks to the perfect blend of luxury and performance. Since 1974, Union County Kia has had deep auto family roots in Charlotte, North Carolina, and proudly serves customers in and around Indian Trail and Monroe too. Contact us with any questions or to schedule a test drive of any one of the vehicles in our new and used car inventory.
Posted in:

Related Posts

Salesman handing key to woman

Your Kia Dealership in Monroe, NC

Finding the right Kia dealership near you in Monroe, NC, and the surrounding area doesn’t have to be a challenge. Union County Kia offers everything you want in a dealership: an extensive selection, competitive pricing, and a well-equipped service center. You’ll be glad you chose Union County Kia. Here’s why. What Makes Union County Kia the Smart Choice Part of the Community At Union County Kia, we pride ourselves on being a part of the community. As a family-owned dealership, we have been a part of the Monroe, North Carolina, community since 1974, giving us a long-standing reputation in the area. Reliable and Affordable Service Center While most dealerships have a service center, few offer the range of services with the speed and quality we do. In addition to standard repairs, diagnostic checks, and scheduled maintenance, we offer Express Service. With this service, you can get in and out in just 30 minutes. Best of all, you don’t need an appointment. Stress-free Buying At Union County Kia, we understand that the average person dreads shopping for a new or used car, as it can be incredibly stressful. We aim to change that. We deliver a no-pressure buying experience where our knowledgeable and friendly team will guide you through the entire process. We help you with the paperwork, financing, and we’ll gladly answer your questions. With us, your car-buying experience will be hassle-free. Extensive Selection of New and Pre-Owned Models Whether you are looking for a new or used vehicle, you will find an extensive selection at Union County Kia. We have more than 300 pre-owned vehicles, offering you more options than you will get anywhere else. Best of all, we give you peace of mind with every used purchase with  a 3-month or 3,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty. We back up our commitment to quality with every new and used vehicle we sell. Price Protection Guarantee – We Will Beat Competitor Pricing When you buy your vehicle from Union County Kia, you are guaranteed the best possible price because we don’t just match the prices of other Kia dealerships – we beat them. In fact, we give you a 110% Price Protection Guarantee. If we make a mistake and are unable to beat the price at another dealership, we will give you $1,000 or 110% of the difference, whichever is greater. Visit Union County Kia Today Visit our showroom for a truly superior car-buying experience. We are conveniently located near Indian Trail, North Carolina. Wherever you live, you can get to our dealership in a matter of minutes.

Kia GT Stinger

Why the Kia Stinger GT Was the Most Exciting Car at NAIAS

2018 Stinger Kia recently stole the spotlight with the debut of its all-new 2018 Kia Stinger GT at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). This exciting sports sedan offers a bold design along with high performance and quiet luxury. According to Kia, “The Stinger promises to be the highest-performance production vehicle in the company’s history and is backed by Kia Motors’ industry-leading quality and reliability.” Since its concept design five years ago, the Stinger has been a passion project that resulted in this incredible vehicle. The Top Three Features of Kia’s Stinger GT Design The Stinger GT is sleek and powerful. Design elements such as powerful haunches, a low-slung cabin, and a steeply raked windshield give this vehicle an aggressive edge. These details aren’t just about looks, though. According to Kia, “Purely functional elements of the exterior design — the front air curtains, wheel arch gills, smooth underbody, and integrated rear diffuser — aid its aerodynamic efficiency.” This means that the Stinger not only looks outstanding but has the incredible performance to match. Powertrain The heart of any sports sedan is, of course, its engine. Two turbocharged engines will be available for the Kia Stinger GT. The Theta II engine will produce an estimated 255 horsepower at approximately 6,200 RPM. Alternatively, the Lambda II engine will produce an estimated 365 horsepower at approximately 6,000 RPM. Another important powertrain feature to note is that the Stinger will be Kia’s first sedan available with rear- or all-wheel drive. The AWD mode features Kia’s new Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control. This system monitors road conditions and automatically applies power and braking force to appropriate wheels in order to stay stable in any condition. Advanced Technology The Stinger’s amenities aren’t only luxurious. They also help you focus on the thrill of the drive. Driver Attention Alert, Forward Collision Assistance, and Head-Up Display are just the beginning of the Stinger’s amazing features. This sport sedan also includes 15 speakers and the Clari-Fi™8 system, a patented music restoration technology that rebuilds audio signals that are lost in the digital compression process. Drives are not only safer with Kia’s Stinger, but more enjoyable. Visit Union County Kia for More Stinger News The 2018 Kia Stinger is set to hit dealerships later this year. To stay up to date with the latest Stinger news, contact Union County Kia. Our helpful staff will answer any questions you may have about this exciting new sports sedan and will notify you once it arrives on our lot. We know you’ll definitely want to be one of the first to take this model out for a test drive.

Pile of gifts rapped in vibrant paper and ribbon

7 Top Holiday Gift Ideas for the Whole Family Under $150

It’s always tough finding the perfect gift around the holidays – especially when it’s so close to the New Year! But don’t fret. We’ve taken all the guesswork out of hunting down that special something for the person that “has it all.” This list of the Seven Top Holiday Gift Ideas under $150 will warm hearts and unwrap huge smiles from your friends and family this season. Amazing Holiday Gifts Under $150 Amazon Echo Dot ($49.99) This modern marvel is a small, voice-controlled device from Amazon, the online retailer. It uses Amazon’s Alexa service to perform tasks like playing music, controlling smarthome devices, reading the news, setting alarms, and more. Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker ($129.99) The Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker is a smart bracelet that syncs automatically to your computers, smartphones, and Windows devices using Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology. It helps you stay fit by keeping a record of your daily activities, such as steps, distance, calories burned, and active minutes. As stylish as it is practical, you can even recieve text messages on-the-go. Find your fit. NES Nintendo Classic ($59.99) Children and adults of all ages can now enjoy the classic games of yesteryear. Based on the popular 1985 NES Design, the NES Nintendo Classic includes 30 games, such as Super Mario Bros and Mega Man 2. This 8-bit wonder connects to your television through the HDMI port and can be controlled with your Wii Remote ™ controller. LuMee Two Illuminated Case for iPhone ($57.00) Everyone’s talking about the LuMee Two Illuminated Case. The LED is 90% brighter than the original, ensuring you’re always in focus for the perfect selfie. Book of the Month Subscription ($44.97) Not every gift has to be a high-tech wonder. The journey of exploration starts in our minds. Choose from thousands of classics, new bestsellers, fiction, non-fiction, science writing, and more. Delivered to your front door monthly, this gift is a joy for the avid reader in your family. Thinkgeek Star Wars R2-D2 Coffee Press ($40.00) You’ll feel like your rough morning was just a distant memory a long time ago in a land far, far away with the stylistic Thinkgeek Star Wars R2-D2 Coffee Press. Wake up refreshed – this is the 32 ounce coffee press you’ve been wanting. Roku Streaming Stick ($48.00) The Roku is leading the way in full HD content streamed directly to your television! Use the app to set up playlists, control your settings remotely, and more. Happy Holidays from Union County Kia From Union County Kia, in Indian Trail, North Carolina– we wish you Happy Holidays! We know that finding the perfect gift can be tough. When you want to keep your family smiling year-round, look to our great selection of new and used Kias. Every Kia on our lot is the gift that keeps on giving, with high-end safety features and unmatched performance ratings. Call us today at (866) 602-1733 and ask about our Holidays On Us Sales Event.