2021 model revealed

Yeah saw this today. Don't know about the rims, I like the current ones better. I also like the current tail lights better.

Those quilted seats looks awesome though, and that bigger screen would be a welcome for new owners. I wonder if the dash would be colour matched to the seats. Also, if they offer contrast stiching, the interior would look amazing!

I welcome the change, hopefully more people will be interested in the Stinger brand. I don't think new owners like myself would be upset that they didn't wait for this new facelift. I'd only be a little bummed if they offer the 3.5L twin turbo engine.
 
I think there's more news to come - KIA Australia have already confirmed the 2021 will get new safety technology which will likely be the blind zone camera system available on the Telluride.

As for the new styling, the additional contrast stitching on the dash and doors and the quilted Nappa leather look very luxurious. The extra ambient lighting on the dash looks good too. On the outside, the new rims are too fussy for my liking and won't be easy to keep clean - hopefully the Oz GT model will keep its current rims. The new rear lights are nice but I prefer the smaller exhaust tips on the current car.
 
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I feel the same about the exhaust tips being too big. Prefer the smaller ones. I have always admired the original tail lights that are definitely different than anything else out there but a light bar would be nice. The quilted leather does look very nice too. Not a fan of the new wheels either.
 
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I like:
- the big display
- the bezel-less mirror
- the extra stitching on the dash
- the seats
- the aluminium instead of gloss black on the steering wheel

I don't like:
- the extra ambient light
- the new tail lights
- the new exhausts
- the new rims
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
I am sure was can swap out the new middle inner tail light to the old one and rewire to make it functional. I can see the new exhausts tips is a eyesore to other due to the small outlet of the original exhausts. Just my 2 cent opinion
 
I like:

- the full width LED strip on the rear
- the blind spot cameras (I aim mirrors properly but my fiance aims both side mirrors behind the car. Ugh!); it definitely has these as you can see the camera pods on the windows
- the larger infotainment screen
- the current DRL design remained the same after all
- the ambient lighting (it looks like the footwell lighting matches now - I hope it extends to the back seats plus now there is a 64-color selection)
- the bimodal exhaust (we can see the valves so it's obviously there)
- the diamond stitching (one reason we have been considering the G70)
- center console layout remained the same

I DON'T like:

- The taillights; the original taillights + full width LED strip would have been absolute perfection. Retrofit of old taillights should be possible. :)
- rear window visibility hasn't improved one iota. When first I sat in a Stinger and looked out the review mirror I felt like I was sitting in my 1968 Mustang Fastback GT, or in the Countach I rented; hopefully they add a C8 Corvette-style hybrid rearview mirror (works as a rearview camera or as a rearview mirror)
- The new wheels are meh. I'll end up using the 2021 wheels for winter, and buy a set of 2020 wheels for the fun part of the year :D

I'm still hoping for:

- rear LSD (not a dealbreaker; I can put in a GTS/G70 diff myself or have a tuner do it if necessary)
- UVO Link (this IS a dealbreaker)
- 3.5L TT V6
- Wireless Android Auto (not a deal breaker, but it seems insane to have a wireless charger without wireless AA and Carplay. I do android and my fiance is an iPhone fanatic)
- insulation on the HVAC ducts in the center console to prevent the phone overheat problem (not a deal breaker; I can perform that upgrade)
- a CD player (sure, laugh... but I <3 lossless audio and am a Pink Floyd fanatic. In fact my "derby name" is Pink Floored. Take out the CD-width indicator light panel that's in the head unit above the controls, and put in a CD player. The head unit chassis has room for a slim-fit laptop-style CD drive. Move those indicators to the infotainment screen or instrument cluster where they belong.)
- a valet mode (JB4 will allow for this, but I want a native valet mode because I'll wait until well past the infant mortality period before tuning it)
- a range of tuning accessories offered by Kia (not that I'd buy Kia's performance parts, but because Toyota, Subaru, and Nissan enjoyed massive success with their performance models because of the semi-official OEM support for the tuning community)


Kia, I'll be happy to sign on as a consultant so I can talk sense into your product managers. ;) You CAN charge a premium MSRP for the Stinger and actually get people to PAY the MSRP if you equip the car in line with or better than your competition and ADVERTISE the car. Getting it into rental fleets as the premium rental option wouldn't hurt. Having your dealer network each stock a top-trim Stinger as rental for long-term test drives would be YUGE.). Start listening to those Audi and BMW engineers you poached.
 
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According to an article I read the quilted stitching in the seats may only be for the South Korean market. Let's hope that's wrong. If Kia didn't already do stupid things like that I wouldn't even believe it is a possibility.

Article for reference:

 
According to an article I read the quilted stitching in the seats may only be for the South Korean market. Let's hope that's wrong. If Kia didn't already do stupid things like that I wouldn't even believe it is a possibility.

Article for reference:

These were the best feature about the G70. I could almost overlook the ugly rims and taillights of the new Stinger if they included the seats. Gorgeous.
 
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From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
These were the best feature about the G70. I could almost overlook the ugly rims and taillights of the new Stinger if they included the seats. Gorgeous.

I've got a feeling we're going to see a gimped Stinger here in the US, and Kia reps in interviews voicing astonishment at the slow sales here, even as their competitors boast strong sales. Again.

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OK - looking closely at the high res photos Kia released, where you can see the rearview mirror and overhead console, it looks like the sunglass holder is lost (bummer!) but what I do see is UVO Link emergency call/concierge buttons

Regarding the "frameless mirror", where are the compass and homelink buttons? That seems to be lost features. I use both in my Saab.

And... are the A-pillars flocked now? It's hard to tell whether it's an issue with the preproduction model (I don't expect fit and finish to be perfect in a prototype or a preproduction model), flocking, or compression artifacts.
 
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I like:
Full LED strip rear
Blind spot Cameras
Larger infotainment screen
The current DRL Design
Ambient lighting
Bimodal exhaust
Diamond stitching
Center console layout same
Taillights
Rear window visibility could be changed without altering the sexiness of the car
the new wheels

I love everything about the face lift.
 
I'm glad I to have the original release version, well MY19 update. That is all.
 
Looks like they are starting to 'tard it up.

Removed fake hood and rear bumper "vents".

That is all that was needed.
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
The current tail lights and wheels are better imo, but the new seat stitching and infotainment look great! Just enough to keep it fresh but not too much to piss off early adopters.
 
I've got a feeling we're going to see a gimped Stinger here in the US, and Kia reps in interviews voicing astonishment at the slow sales here, even as their competitors boast strong sales. Again.

Say what?

Sales thru July:
Stinger - 7,778
G70 - 5,275
IS - 5,978

(Both the G70 and IS are 4 door sedans which traditionally sell a lot better than the fastback bodystyle).

Sales thru June:
4 Series - 3,958 (includes coupe; caveat being a new model on the horizon)
A5/S5 - 10,310 (includes coupe and cabrio)
Arteon - 1,585

People seem to keep forgetting that fastbacks are a niche segment.

If anything dooms the Stinger, it will be the abysmal sales in Korea (the more expensive K9 vastly outsells the Stinger there), along with the lower than expected sales of the base engine here (we'll see soon enough if the upgrade to the 2.5T will remedy that).
 
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