2017 Kia Stinger Photos, engines & full specs

Nobody expected Kia to produce a car that could compete against BMW's 4 Series Gran Coupe or Audi's A5 Sportback, and yet the Korean automaker did it with the Stinger.

The Stinger was a sporty-looking five-door hatchback that could keep up with the best in the premium compact segment, even though the Korean automaker was not invited to that table. Just to be sure that the car would perform according to its look, Kia tested it on the Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany and built it on top of a shortened version of the Hyundai Genesis G70 platform.

The design team led by Peter Schreyer made the Stinger with the same "tiger nose" signature front fascia flanked by a pair of narrow headlights. In addition, the lower side of the bumper sported a broad grille in the air dam flanked on the sides by a pair of scoops that cooled the brakes. From its profile, the low greenhouse and the sloped back tailgate created an aerodynamic, sporty look for the vehicle.

Inside, the sporty feeling continued with the bolstered front seats separated by a tall center console that housed the gear stick (or gear selector, depending on the options) and the controls for the infotainment system. Kia installed a simple layout for the instrument panel with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer and an LCD for the onboard computer. In the rear, the split-folding bench seat was mostly suitable for two passengers.

Kia offered the Stinger with a wide choice of engines, depending on the market. The base versions were powered by inline-four powerplants, while the top-of-the-range version sported a 3.3-liter biturbo V6 engine. Also, depending on the market and options, the car was available with either a rear or an all-wheel drive system.