Kia plans to mark the end of the Stinger with a special trim called the Tribute Edition. The Tribute Edition builds on the GT2’s comprehensive package, offering enthusiasts a powerful 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine and numerous well-thought-out touches.
The Kia Stinger has been around since 2018, offering enthusiasts a fun-to-drive luxury sedan with a stylish package, great value, and world-class performance. Kia will offer just 440 Stinger Tribute Edition models in the U.S., and existing customers and those lending a helping hand will be among the first to know about their availability.
10 A few unique touches
The Kia Stinger Tribute Edition builds on the comprehensive package offered by the 2023 Kia Stinger GT2. This configuration is equipped with the most powerful engine in the line and optional four-wheel drive. The Tribute Edition also gets black details, including side mirrors, exhaust tips, Brembo brake calipers and model-exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels.
Kia also offers two paint options for the Stinger Tribute Edition: Ascot Green and the newly available Steel Matte Gray. That said, there aren’t many styling changes for the latest Stinger with a 2022 redesign that introduced distinctive LED exterior lighting, a more aggressive quad exhaust design and new geometric alloy wheels.
9 Limited availability
Kia introduced the Stinger in 2018, giving enthusiasts a fun-to-drive premium five-seat sedan. Unlike its European rivals, the Stinger offered a reasonable price tag, and that characteristic continues to this day, given that the base 2023 variant has a starting retail price of $36,690.
Kia is limiting the Stinger Tribute Edition to 1,000 units worldwide and 440 units in the US. It helps complete a six-year production cycle, offering unique upgrades that clearly set it apart from other Stinger models.
The Tribute Edition is based on the GT2’s impressive trim package, which has a starting retail price of $51,890. Notable changes in the Tribute Edition include two exterior color options, black details, special logos in the interior and a unique numbered sill plate. Kia plans to first notify its customers and consumers of the availability of the Stinger Tribute Edition at dealers.
8 A set of advanced Kia driver assistance systems
The base Kia Stinger has many driver assistance systems, including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping, forward collision avoidance, and more. These aspects help it stand out from competing models from manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. .
The Kia Stinger Tribute Edition gets all the features of the GT2 trim level. These include blind spot monitoring, surround view monitor, front and rear parking distance warning, etc. The Stinger Tribute Edition also gets most of the driver assistance systems in the base Gt-Line.
7 Adaptive suspension settings
The Kia Stinger Tribute Edition boasts an adaptive suspension with MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link independent rear suspension. This suspension setup is similar to that of the GT2 and helps absorb bumps for a smooth ride.
In addition to the adaptive suspension, the Kia Stinger Tribute Edition received a differential of increased friction. Kia also adds an electronically controlled transfer case and dynamic torque vectoring in the all-wheel drive Stinger Tribute Edition.
6 Exclusive exterior design
Kia updated the Stinger for 2022, offering several standard features, including LED headlights and taillights. The Stinger also gets new signature DRLs and optional “Stinger-signature” LED DRLs and headlights. At the rear, the LED taillights had a new eye-catching design, spanning the entire width of the liftgate. Kia offered GT trims with full LED trim, including LED turn signals.
Kia Stinger Tribute Edition received a new design and some minor exterior changes. These include black details on the exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brake calipers, exhaust tips and side mirrors. The Kia Stinger Tribute Edition also gets two body color options: Ascot Green and the new Steel Matte Gray.
5 Premium interior
The Kia Stinger model range has a high-class interior with a minimalist style. Kia’s interior is complemented by soft-touch plastic, metal accents and leather upholstery. The front seats are heated and supportive, and the rear seats are surprisingly roomy for three passengers. The GT2 and Tribute Edition trims offer heated rear seats to help keep passengers warm in cold weather.
Interior
|
Cargo space (all seats in place) |
23.3 cubic feet |
|
Cargo space (max.) |
40.9 cubic feet |
|
Front height |
38.3 inches |
|
Front legroom |
42.6 inches |
|
The height of the rear part |
37 inches |
|
Rear legroom |
36.4 inches |
In addition, the Kia Stinger lineup also boasts a large trunk volume of 23.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 40.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. That’s better cargo space than the 12 cu. ft. Audi in the A4 and 13.4 cu. ft. at Alfa Romeo in the Giulia.
4 The latest information and entertainment technologies
In the 2023 model year, all Kia Stinger models will pamper passengers with the latest infotainment and technology. The Kia Stinger has an impressive 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. The infotainment screen also supports split-screen functionality and Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
Kia also offers a wireless charger as standard, allowing passengers to keep their devices charged at all times. While the base variant gets a 4.2-inch color TFT center unit, the GT2 and Tribute Edition get a larger 7-inch center unit. This display provides the safety of affordable blind spot monitoring. It can also project an available surround view monitor that offers a 360-degree perspective of the vehicle.
Audiophiles can enjoy a premium Harman Kardon audio system with 15 speakers in the GT2 and Tribute Edition trims.
Standard in-car entertainment features
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10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
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Wireless charger
-
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
-
Harman Kardon audio system with 15 speakers
3 Iconic Kia Stinger Legacy
Kia introduced the Stinger sedan for 2018, providing enthusiasts with a fun-to-drive luxury sedan. However, unlike rivals such as the BMW M3, the Kia Stinger had a lower price tag while delivering a stylish package and world-class performance. Since its introduction, Kia has only offered two engine options: a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and a 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6.
For 2018 through 2021 models, the base engine was a 255-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. and 260 lb-ft of torque. However, for 2022, Kia introduced a more powerful base engine, a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 300 hp. and 311 lb-ft of torque. The twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 remained the same, producing 365 hp. in previous versions and 368 hp. in 2022 and 2023 models.
The Kia Stinger Tribute Edition sums up the brand’s incredible achievements. It competes with more expensive rivals such as the $61,050 BMW M440i Gran Coupe. The Stinger Tribute Edition delivers impressive performance and unique touches to keep it memorable.
2 Competitively priced limited edition
Kia is not a traditional luxury brand like Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz. Still, the Stinger is an impressive luxury sedan with engaging handling and refined amenities. For the 2023 model year, Kia offers two main Stinger trim levels: GT-Line and GT2. The base GT-Line boasts a modest starting price of $36,690, while the GT2 raises the price to $51,890.
The Kia Stinger Tribute Edition is also available in two variants, one with rear-wheel drive and the other with all-wheel drive. These variants share the same specifications, including a powerful 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. However, Kia differentiates the Tribute Edition from the GT2 trim by adding numbered door sill plates, a unique interior with synthetic suede headliner and black detailing.
Pricing
|
Clippings |
Original MSRP |
|
Stinger Tribute Edition with rear-wheel drive |
53,390 USD |
|
Stinger Tribute Edition AWD |
$55,590 |
(The price comes from Kia)
Standard features of the Stinger Tribute Edition are similar to those of the GT2. These include sunroof, adaptive headlights, hands-free power liftback, heated rear seats, cooled front seats, premium Harman Kardon system, head-up display, front parking sensors, garage door opener, memory settings for the driver’s seat. and side mirrors, as well as a circular view system for parking.
1 Highest performance
Engine characteristics
|
Producer |
Kia |
|
Years of production |
2018 – 2024 years |
|
Configuration |
Twin turbo V6 |
|
Moving |
3.3 liters |
|
Horsepower |
368 hp |
|
A turning point |
376 lb-ft |
|
fuel |
Gasoline |
|
Programs worth paying attention to |
Kia Stinger |
Since Kia introduced the Stinger in 2018, there have always been two engine options: a turbocharged 4-cylinder and a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6. Earlier base versions of the Kia Stinger used a 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. However, Kia later changed the powertrain to a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder unit that produces an impressive 300 hp.
Over the years, the twin-turbo V6 engine has remained unchanged, producing 365 hp. in previous versions and 368 hp. in recent models. The Kia Stinger Tribute Edition uses this more powerful V6 engine, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels as standard. Kia also offers an optional all-wheel drive option.
The twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 helps the Stinger accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 267 mph.
Reference list: Kia, BMW