by "Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
Published 03/31/2017 at 13:06
by "Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
Published 03/31/2017 at 13:06
Tags: Kia
STARS: 3
You can see the “E” badging up front which the RWD cars will wear in S. Korea only. The K900 successor, which is going to be very different from what we currently have, will receive it too in that market along with a new name. I hate the finish on that carbon fiber.
The E doesn’t mean anything outside of some marketing wordplay for S. Korea in order to make the vehicle a bit more exclusive. You have to remember that pretty much 1 out of 4 or 5 cars on the road is a Kia so South Koreans are buying other brands because they want something different. How often do you pass up buying a car because someone you know currently owned one?
No subbrand is coming nor any updates to the current badge. All Kias will stay Kias but at least now you know the badges in rear and in back are just stuck on. No holes or impressions, just smooth body underneath for flawless debadging.
I think the US pricing goal for the Stinger GT (the one with the 3.3L) is going to be a starting price just over $38,000 (RWD) and top out around $46,000 including AWD. So right between the starting price of a 430i xDrive Gran Coupe and a 440i Gran Coupe.
That’s really all the interesting stuff about the Stinger for now, other than a Black Edition coming.
The K900 is being replaced with something more like a split between a 5 Series and 7 Series (no, not a 6 Series GC). That shouldn’t make sense but it does...anyways, a new nameplate is coming (Veredus is still possible) and as soon as I find out more I’ll let you all know. Also waiting to find out more on the the second performance turbo V6 we heard about years ago. It’s supposed to hit around 440 hp and 480 hp and should be popping up for winter testing next year.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
03/31/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
Where are you getting this info about US pricing? Know if these packages are coming to the US? I know we aren’t getting the E badge.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/31/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
That may be ambitious starting pricing for the Stinger, don’t you think?
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
03/31/2017 at 13:15, STARS: 4
Is it just me or that badge from a distance looks awfully like this?
"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
03/31/2017 at 13:19, STARS: 0
That’s just me, I’m not sure why everyone is saying it will start in the $35,000-$45,000 range and top out around $50,000 (where all the luxury sedans are priced at) when it will start in the $30,000 to $38,000 range and top out around $46,000. Shoot, Kia said it starts in Korea for under $27,000 but haven’t even decided what engines it will have.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
03/31/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 0
I would bet giving their current line up it’s starting price is around 28-31. I can’t imagine it’s starting price is above the Cadenza. With the TT V6 and AWD I can see it cracking 40, but I think you’re high on that price.
I mean, these are simply me guessing based off their lineup as well so we’ll have to see.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
03/31/2017 at 13:24, STARS: 1
I think it’s too high, my guess will be a high 20's starting price. I don’t see them out-pricing the Cadenza for a starting price.
"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
03/31/2017 at 13:26, STARS: 1
I think the Stinger GT will be priced similar to the Chrysler 300 or where the Genesis Sedan used to be. A 340 hp V6 Jaguar XE starts under $42,000 so I’m not sure why everyone is saying Kia will match that starting price for their 365 hp V6 sedan.
"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
03/31/2017 at 13:28, STARS: 0
I thought the same thing.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/31/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 0
I don’t know about high 20s, but I don’t think they should be pushing 40 for a decently equipped car until they get some market penetration.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/31/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 0
An XE can set that price because Jaguar. I am very favorably disposed toward Kia, as you know, but I look at what happened to the K900, which depreciated almost 50% as soon as it drove off the lot. It makes me thing the Stinger may be as good as its big name competitors, but will have to start with more value-conscious pricing until it gets market penetration. I was thinking base pricing in the low 30s.
"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
03/31/2017 at 13:44, STARS: 1
I was in the same line of thinking until I thought about the fact that Kia can’t offer this car stripped down at any level in the US or else they’ll get jumped on by reviewers and Internet commenters about cheap plastics and whatnot. So I think the cars will be coming equipped with premium/convenience/safety packages as standard where ever possible. But it still needs to be more than an Optima SX ($30,000). The Cadenza is so different in character that I don’t think one needs to be cheaper than the other, it will just end up that the Stinger might start $800 less. Maybe a relationship like Lexus IS and ES.
"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
03/31/2017 at 13:52, STARS: 2
I think so too for the 4-cyl but I still think the starting price for the Stinger GT (the one with the 3.3L V6) will be a $38,000 car just like the Genesis Sedan was. It can’t debut without a lot of standard equipment. The Kia K900 failed because there is no such thing as a “cheap limo” market. They buy Suburbans.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
03/31/2017 at 13:56, STARS: 0
I don’t think it’ll come packed (again, I have to say that I’m speculating and have no inside info on what packages come with what or pricing on the Stinger) with all the convenience safety tech on the entry model. Proof of that is the entry Cadenza, which btw is still nice inside, just nothing compared to the SXL/Limited trim. That entry Cadenza is pretty empty tech wise. It’s also a significant marketing point to say it starts under 30k.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/31/2017 at 14:00, STARS: 0
Fair enough.
I think the K900 was an LS competitor but without the brand equity Lexus spent so long to build up.
"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
03/31/2017 at 14:42, STARS: 2
It was just an excellent Korean luxury car they imported in order to market with all the lead sponsorships with Basketball, Golf, Tennis, Soccer and countless other sports. Can’t really have a bunch of people making millions of dollars walk off in a Soul, Optima, or Sorento on national tv every game. Same reason Hyundai didn’t give out a car at the Superbowl, you don’t want to make Kanye West lyrics come true when they make fun of you.
The problem with the K9 is that everyone stopped buying it in Korea because real luxury brands finally gained access to sale directly and the market wants smaller vehicles with better driving dynamics and global prestige. Heck, S. Korea just this month became the second best market for the Mercedes E-Class.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/31/2017 at 14:46, STARS: 1
That may all be true. Whatever the reason, I still want one.
"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
03/31/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 1
Me flippin’ too! I can’t believe I’m seeing 2015s in the $25k range, so exciting!!
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/31/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 1
I tried to convince my wife to get one, but she wanted a new Sedona. Also, a very good car, btw. I think I still owe you an Oppo review.
"IAN_Z" (theonline)
03/31/2017 at 19:19, STARS: 0
Glad that badge isn’t coming to the US.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
06/20/2017 at 16:41, STARS: 0
So an automatic only, twin turbo V6, AWD optional sport sedan from a company with some of the “best warranties” (no personal experience but they apparently are good) will drop at the same time that the Alfa Romeo Giulia is struggling to sell.
Note- I don’t think the majority of potential alfa buyers are cross shopping with Kia, of all companies, but we have to ask ourselves how long Alfa, and posibly even Maserati, will be relevant in the US market? Because the people already established in the segment of sports sedans have kept buying what they’ve been buying. And you know these Kia/Hyundai models will grab people either new to the segment (finally got some disposable income and can buy something sporty or luxurious, but not quite outrageous), or get the people who buy the lower spec models because they like the brand and they present a good value.
The ghibli has been little more than a wet fart in the luxury sport sedan segment. The giulia is falling on its face. Kia is now joining BMW and mercedes and Audi in kicking the italians in the dick.....What happened here?