Can anyone find professional Nürburgring lap times for the Stinger GT?

[ElChanclo]

For all the talk of KIA having a development office at the ring, the thousands of testing hours around the track, the press days and demo laps that went into the Stinger, I can't find any official lap times anywhere.

One journalist claims he got a 9.5 minute run, but that's far from what the car can do. I just can't find any professional set times for the life of me.

 

[ElChanclo]

BUMP!

Any updates? I know kia has the lap times, doesn't look like they're interested in sharing them though. Someone must've taken their stinger round there by now though...

 

[CaliSting]

While the car may have been “tuned” at the ring car is far from being capable to be driven 10/10ths on entire ring lap due to crappy brake pads. I suspect mid 9 minutes are best OEM car will do given no way brakes or possibly even transmission would last entire lap on the ring with a professional driver at wheel. In all the ring videos of the car to date seeing it being paced or not driven hard. That’s likely for good reason knowing brakes would have huge fade after a couple minutes. Heck testers on short tracks get brake fade in GT over a couple minutes. Imagine 9 minutes of all out braking from speeds over 100 mph. Yikes!

I suspect to go hard at the ring would need upgraded pads and good high temp brake fluid. And perhaps bigger trans cooler. I don’t know that anyone has come out with track pads yet?

With brakes that would last entire lap suspect the car would do under 9 with good driver. Eventually some brave soul who knows how to drive the ring will drag a GT out there with real brake pads. Doubt it has happened yet.

 

[MerlintheMad]

In all the ring videos of the car to date seeing it being paced or not driven hard. That’s likely for good reason knowing brakes would have huge fade after a couple minutes.

It's possible that Kia tested the car with race worthy brake pads. But never had any intention to include the expense on the production car.

Nearly every page in the brochures has an asterisked caveat about "obey traffic laws and exercise safe driving habits" or words to that effect. So Kia is not encouraging or condoning the kind of driving on public roads that the Nurburgring inspires! Nonetheless, the car is capable of fast driving because it is SAFE. That is what the testing at the Ring was all about: create a high performance grand touring car; not to create a track car.

And that article comparing the Stinger to the Alfa Romeo Giulia a couple of weeks ago echoes your warnings about the brakes. Yet the Stinger lapped faster than the Alfa, which I find amusing. If the Stinger swapped to race worthy pads, it would leave the Alfa flat. I've decided that if I ever do laps on a track, I will first replace the pads. No other "mod" will be necessary.

 

[CaliSting]

It's possible that Kia tested the car with race worthy brake pads. But never had any intention to include the expense on the production car.

Nearly every page in the brochures has an asterisked caveat about "obey traffic laws and exercise safe driving habits" or words to that effect. So Kia is not encouraging or condoning the kind of driving on public roads that the Nurburgring inspires! Nonetheless, the car is capable of fast driving because it is SAFE. That is what the testing at the Ring was all about: create a high performance grand touring car; not to create a track car.

And that article comparing the Stinger to the Alfa Romeo Giulia a couple of weeks ago echoes your warnings about the brakes. Yet the Stinger lapped faster than the Alfa, which I find amusing. If the Stinger swapped to race worthy pads, it would leave the Alfa flat. I've decided that if I ever do laps on a track, I will first replace the pads. No other "mod" will be necessary.

Almost every car manufacturer who tests road cars on the ring doesn’t intend them to be track cars. And most are testing high speed dynamics plus manufacturers wanting marketing cred of Ring testing. Kia wasn’t doing anything different at ring than any other manufacturer. Doubtful Kia put special pads on Stinger for testing on the ring. ....there is a difference between testing and timed lap attempts by companies often in slightly hopped up forms of their road cars. However most European cars do come with better stock pads that hold up better than Kia even in their Gran Turismo models. Lol

As for the 365 hp V6 TT Stinger verses entry level Alfa, it barely beat a much less powerful 280 hp 4 cylinder Alfa. Unclear what point of that comparo? Got it price wise similar but comparing like to like an Alfa with proper V6 TT from ferarri would smoke v6TT Stinger GT on track. Tough for any car to make up almost 100 hp deficit on track even if brakes on Kia were crappy. It’s sort of funny when Marketeers say Kia has made car to compete with best of Europe. ....Well not exactly Kia competes with entry level of European brands but doesn’t come close to top end of euro brands. BMW M cars , Alfa Guillia GT, Mercedes AMG and Porsche turbo S version of Panamera all out perform Stinger GT by wide margins. Yes Euro cars cost more but Kia really doesn’t compete with the “best”. Kia at top end competes with entry level of euro brands. I used to laugh when Hyundai used to pit V8 genesis against wimpy 201 hp base model Porsche Boxster in drag race. And then say faster than a Porsche. Yep V8 barely outpulled a 2.5 liter flat 6 entry level boxster. Kia still has a long way to go before they gain performance reputation of top European manufacturers, but hey Kia has come a long way from crappy econo boxes for sure. Hopefully they learn from their mistakes.

 

[Schpok]

I don't think they did any real timed laps. They only did testing on there. Every enigne- and dirve- concept did about 20.000km of testing. And they did 10.000km runs (equals 480 laps) in a short period of time, to test reliability. (480 laps equal 160.000km on normal roads)

 

[MerlintheMad]

Got it price wise similar but comparing like to like an Alfa with proper V6 TT from ferarri would smoke v6TT Stinger GT on track.

Absolutely. But would also cost thousands more, being an Alfa, after all.

Well not exactly Kia competes with entry level of European brands but doesn’t come close to top end of euro brands.

True! And money talks throughout the conversation. The Stinger is a great name for this car. It stings the competition into new directions. Wait for iiit!...

Kia still has a long way to go before they gain performance reputation of top European manufacturers, but hey Kia has come a long way from crappy econo boxes for sure. Hopefully they learn from their mistakes.

Yes. I still can hardly believe that a "Kia" is sitting in my carport. It's not like any Kia before. But what follows will build on that. Will the cost stay down? Comparatively, yes it will; or else Kia will have tossed the original approach and gone with "the big boys".

 

[JohnG7]

While the car may have been “tuned” at the ring car is far from being capable to be driven 10/10ths on entire ring lap due to crappy brake pads. I suspect mid 9 minutes are best OEM car will do given no way brakes or possibly even transmission would last entire lap on the ring with a professional driver at wheel. In all the ring videos of the car to date seeing it being paced or not driven hard. That’s likely for good reason knowing brakes would have huge fade after a couple minutes. Heck testers on short tracks get brake fade in GT over a couple minutes. Imagine 9 minutes of all out braking from speeds over 100 mph. Yikes!

I suspect to go hard at the ring would need upgraded pads and good high temp brake fluid. And perhaps bigger trans cooler. I don’t know that anyone has come out with track pads yet?

With brakes that would last entire lap suspect the car would do under 9 with good driver. Eventually some brave soul who knows how to drive the ring will drag a GT out there with real brake pads. Doubt it has happened yet.

Here is a link to an older article about driving "the ring" last year:
2018 Kia Stinger First Drive - Review of Kia Stinger GT

As far as track pads, seems the Euro cars come with different pads?? See this statement (Other than two minor tweaks (the vehicles are wearing Euro-spec brake pads and suspension components because Americans prefer things quieter and softer — they are identical to the vehicles arriving in local showrooms later this year.) From this article:
The 2018 Kia Stinger Defies Germany's Famed Nürburgring Nordschleife Race Track

While our Stingers aren't set up ready to win on the track, it will surprise many...

Edit to add Albert Bierman's intent with our Stinger:
Biermann is at pains to point out that the Stinger is not meant to be a track car, nor a full-blown M rival—just a well-rounded sport sedan that doesn’t feel out of its element if you happen to stumble across 12.9 miles of one-way toll road in Germany’s Eifel Mountains.

Edit2- removed video (simulation)

 

[CaliSting]

Just as a note the bigger heavier Gran Turismo 5 door Panamera Turbo S from Porsche lapped the ring in 7:38 back in 2016. The new Panamera is even faster now. The Panamera Turbo S is no track car as well but it’s more than capable of running down less capable track cars. That’s difference between a company like Porsche and Kia. Porsche will say it’s not a track car but know it will crush most cars on the track. Hell even their SUVs kick butt on track.

.

 

[ElChanclo]

car is far from being capable to be driven 10/10ths on entire ring lap due to crappy brake pads.

Just the pads, or the rotors as well? Because pads are a breeze to change.

no way brakes or possibly even transmission would last entire lap on the ring with a professional driver at wheel.

I thought that was the whole purpose of Kia's "Nurburgring development office", to make sure the car could handle spirited driving. Or is it just marketing BS as Cali suggested?

Yes. I still can hardly believe that a "Kia" is sitting in my carport.

The day after I test drove the stinger for the first time I told my friend "I've found my next car. It's from the LAST manufacturer you'd ever guess." He thought for a bit and went "... is it a Kia?"

While our Stingers aren't set up ready to win on the track, it will surprise many...

That's why I want to know the stingers' lap time, so I can be surprised.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I thought that was the whole purpose of Kia's "Nurburgring development office", to make sure the car could handle spirited driving. Or is it just marketing BS as Cali suggested?

@CaliSting is literally the only one I've read asserting that the tranny in the Stinger could not hold up to the Ring. Everything else says the car's development (including especially the in house transmission) is solidly thorough. I think the tranny would be the last thing on the Stinger to crap out. This is based solely on what I have read, which I do not believe is "marketing BS". All the reviews and videos of aggressively driving the car support this.

 

[rocket23]

All I ever wanted was a car to run the ''top gear'' track in england at or around 1.30 seconds....the kia stinger did just that!!

 

[rocket23]

for the op

 

[MerlintheMad]

for the op

That lap is approximately 9:08 (subtract the non lapping time from the beginning, c. 1:20 and the ending pit row time, c. 1:16, from 11:04).

On the main straight, the Ring Guru held the maximum speed down and they briefly touched 150 MPH.

 

[rocket23]

impressive, am I right?

 

[MerlintheMad]

impressive, am I right?

It impresses me. The car is not a race car. It is a relatively low priced, luxury, high performing gran turismo. A Kia pushing the brand in a whole new direction. It works very well. That was a doodle lap. The car is capable of eight minute laps at the Ring, unmodded. Put on decent race brake pads, make sure everything is perfect and go. Let the Ring Guru (Dirk Schoysman) drive it, instead of a camera car while he takes a nap!

 

[rocket23]

spot on.

 

[ElChanclo]

It impresses me. The car is not a race car. It is a relatively low priced, luxury, high performing gran turismo. A Kia pushing the brand in a whole new direction.

I'm just stumped as to why they aren't publishing the actual number, considering how proud they are of their ties to the Nurburgring. It's been two years since that video, you know they have the numbers and everything. Just feels like they're purposefully hiding it for whatever reason. I doubt it's that bad, guessing somewhere in the 8 minute range given the Panamera numbers...

Anyway, if no one else can find it at least I know I haven't just overlooked it, they've clearly omitted it.

 

[rocket23]

I'm just stumped as to why they aren't publishing the actual number, considering how proud they are of their ties to the Nurburgring. It's been two years since that video, you know they have the numbers and everything. Just feels like they're purposefully hiding it for whatever reason. I doubt it's that bad, guessing somewhere in the 8 minute range given the Panamera numbers....

Kinda adds to the mystique, you know.....like women, in general

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm just stumped as to why they aren't publishing the actual number, considering how proud they are of their ties to the Nurburgring. It's been two years since that video, you know they have the numbers and everything. Just feels like they're purposefully hiding it for whatever reason. I doubt it's that bad, guessing somewhere in the 8 minute range given the Panamera numbers...

Anyway, if no one else can find it at least I know I haven't just overlooked it, they've clearly omitted it.

The promo book says, "During the Stinger's development, prototype versions lapped the 13-mile track more than 480 times -- around 50 in the rain -- at 90 to 95 percent of the car's fastest lap time." Since we have empirical proof of the Stinger's "promo lap" at c. 9:08, if you take that to be "90 percent" of its fastest lap time, then the prototype Stingers lapped at something between 8:13 and 8:18.