Kia could be about to give the term 'Police sting' a whole new meaning, with the Korean brand looking to submit its all-new Stinger sedan for evaluation as a potential police vehicle when it arrives in Australia in September.
The rear-wheel drive Stinger sedan was just unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, and is scheduled to arrive in Australia with a choice of 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol engine, or a headline-stealing 3.3-litre, twin-turbo V6 in the GT model that will generate 272kW/510Nm - numbers that outshine all but the biggest Holden Commodore V8. At just over 4.8m in length, it matches the current police sedan fleet for size, too.
The GT should prove plenty powerful enough, with the top-spec Stinger able to clip 100km/h in 5.1secs before powering on to a top speed of 270km/h. The GT will also arrive with a mechanical limited-slip differential, electronically adjustable suspension and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Kia’s Sorento SUV is already being evaluated by police departments in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, and it would like the all-new Stinger to be be next, with Kia telling CarsGuide “It’s definitely something we’d be interested in looking at.”
“We don't see a downside to the police wanting to look at this car, and our Sorento is already being evaluated by police departments in three states,” said Kia Motors Corporation's Australian PR boss, Kevin Hepworth.
“It’s too early for us to have serious conversations, but it’s definitely something we’d be interested in looking at.”
Last time I saw John Elsworth was at Cruze II launch, having given a talk at dinner the first night, he was getting into a HSV E2 next morning. Now, he's Hyundai/Kia's national sales manager. Coincidently, Hyundai now has an Australian suspension tuning and drivability team, and the cars are getting better reviews for ride/handling and auto tune.
Plus, we now get cars with boiled-lolly colours and hopup/appearance packs - wonder where they got that from?
Both BMW and Merc have rejected bringing in decontented hipo 5 and E-series for police work, so if Hyundai can land the TTV6 for around $40K priced for the cops like the Commy SS they stand to pick up a heap of high-profile business.
If Hyundai gets one in the Supercar championship (which is looking to go hybrid fours or V6s) it could make big inroads into former HSV territory, especially given H-K is launching a new performance range.
If it sounds farfetched, Subaru started rallying here with one local farmer - from '96 he won 7 rally titles in a row just as WRC was geting a big profile and took them from nowhere to everywhere. For about ten years Suby owned Australasian rally titles. Sold 'em buckets of WRXs.
In the UK, the figures suggested in the media, ie not yet confirmed, are in line with the Sorento - so the Stinger 2.2 CRDi about the same as Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-1 and the Stinger 3.3 V6 turbo about the same as Sorenta 2.2 CRDi KX-4 auto. In between, the UK will get a 2.0 Turbo-petrol.
Hello GM, KIA is calling you out, easy to respond with the Buick Avista Coupe on the Alpha 110.7 inch wheel base and a Sedan version on the Alpha 114.6 inch wheel base, engine selection should be Turbo 2 Liter I4's with ratings of 275 and 300Hp. ( power ratings that have been produced or demonstrated by GM with the 2.0 Liter Gen 1 - Gen 3 Family ), V6's should be the 3.6L LGX 335Hp version, turbo V6's should be the 3.0L LGW at 404hp and the 3.6L LF4 at 464hp, if V8's are part of the package it must be a port and direct injected 6.2L LT1 with Atleast 500Hp ( easily done, just look at what Katech does ), transmissions should be a close ratio 6 or 7 speed manual and 8L90 and 10R90 performance automatics.
It could be sold as a Buick, Opel, Vauxhall and Holden since these 4 divisions share body language and Chevy should get there use of the platform and sell as Monte Carlo and Caprice but with there own specific body, no badge engineering.There problem solved
Hello GM, KIA is calling you out, easy to respond with the Buick Avista Coupe on the Alpha 110.7 inch wheel base and a Sedan version on the Alpha 114.6 inch wheel base, engine selection should be Turbo 2 Liter I4's with ratings of 275 and 300Hp. ( power ratings that have been produced or demonstrated by GM with the 2.0 Liter Gen 1 - Gen 3 Family ), V6's should be the 3.6L LGX 335Hp version, turbo V6's should be the 3.0L LGX at 404hp and the 3.6L LF4 at 464hp, if V8's are part of the package it must be a port and direct injected 6.2L LT1 with Atleast 500Hp ( easily done, just look at what Katech does ), transmissions should be a close ratio 6 or 7 speed manual and 8L90 and 10R90 performance automatics.
It could be sold as a Buick, Opel, Vauxhall and Holden since these 4 divisions share body language and Chevy should get there use of the platform and sell as Monte Carlo and Caprice but with there own specific body, no badge engineering.There problem solved
I expect the price will depend a lot on what happens with the USD and exchange rates. Having a new US President only makes that more muddied. I am glad I am not having to price imported cars at the moment.
I imagine a V6 retail will be fifty big ones. Then it'll depend on how they're reviewed and what they perform like. If they have the right brake and suspension hardware they could be a goer. Have to admit, my niece's new Sportage is better inside than I'd thought, and she's got a base. It doesn't appear to drive too badly either.
I think a naturally-aspirated V6 nosedragger is going to feel a bit so-so, even if it has AWD available.
BM 1,2,3 or Merc C with a six is the better part of $60K onroad, and 5 or E more like 70-plus, so I can see them slotting into the vacated Commodore/Falcon sedan space - especially if Kia decides to enter the Supercar series. That's if it survives Holden pulling virtually all it's support as well as Ford. They aren't going to sell a gazillion but could be pretty handy niche sales even at 5-10K a year. Like the FT86 and BRZ, it's the global total. And unlike a lot of Kias you wouldn't expect it to sell just on price, so it should be pretty profitable.
Kia are fortunate to get this run. No Ford competitor and Holden don't want to give the game away too early. It's an important step, not just for the brand, but the Hyundai Kia Group.
It depends on what happens with the dollar. If the price it now when it is at .75 to the USd dollar it will be a much better price than if it is priced at 0.71 or lower which everyone seems to be waiting to happen.
Also what happens in Trumpistan. While the $Au is on the up, a US recession triggered by a trade war would kick us in the goolies good - could actually conceivable put the global kybosh on aspirational product like this, they may be forced short-medium term to stick with garden-variety stuff. That will go for everyone.
It depends on what happens with the dollar. If the price it now when it is at .75 to the USd dollar it will be a much better price than if it is priced at 0.71 or lower which everyone seems to be waiting to happen.
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