If you wanted to put your name down for a brand-new Kia Stinger, it’s already too late as the company’s local arm expects to deliver its final example next month.
Kia Australia chief operating officer Dennis Piccoli told CarExpert there are around 150 examples of the Stinger left to be delivered in Australia. All shipments of the liftback have arrived, and all examples have names next to them.
Unless you’ve already ordered one, then, you’ve missed out.
The company confirmed the Stinger’s demise in December last year, indicating it would cease production sometime this year.
Kia Australia product planning general manager Roland Rivero told CarExpert in April the brand had communicated a stop-sale to dealers, and would fulfil its current order bank.
“We can confirm that we have advised our dealers that no further VFOS orders will be taken for Stinger as the factory focuses on producing outstanding orders prior to the end of production,” said Mr Rivero in April.
The domestic market, along with select global markets, scored a Tribute Edition to see out the Stinger’s final months, with 1000 units produced in a unique specification.
Despite supply challenges, the Stinger had a terrific 2022 in sales.
Kia recorded 2242 registrations, marking growth of 59.3 per cent for the year. It was the Stinger’s best year ever in Australia.
The overwhelming majority of customers – “over 90 per cent” according to Kia – have been opting for the top-spec Stinger GT with its twin-turbocharged 3.3-litre V6, which until the stop-sale was available from $71,390 drive-away.
Once production ends later this year, the Stinger will pass the baton over to the all-electric EV6 crossover, which has a new performance halo in the 430kW EV6 GT flagship.
Capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 260km/h, the EV6 GT pumps out performance numbers within reach of something like an Audi RS6 Avant – which is more than twice the Kia’s $99,590 asking price.
MORE: Everything Kia Stinger