Kia GT4 Stinger concept gets serious about performance, style

The Detroit auto show reveal of the Kia GT4 Stinger concept confirms what we suspected all along: The the strategic shadows that hid much of the car in preview photos concealed a clean, 2+2 fastback coupe. Though Kia claims there's no plans to put the car production as-shown, it's a tantalizingly plausible glimpse of where the automaker could go. And we like it.

Of course, this isn't the first time we've been teased by a rear-wheel drive fastback concept from Kia; we're still intrigued by the suicide-door equipped GT sedan that emerged the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. So this is an idea that the Korean automaker has been kicking around for a while.

But the GT4 Stinger looks more or less assembly line-ready once you filter out all the usual concept car flourishes like the radical, vertically stacked headlamps flanked by brake cooling ducts, strange A-pillar vents and an interior that's just a little too futuristic to trust today's drivers with. We can see the car's prominent fender flares -- a little bit reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision concept -- making it to production, and its classic GT proportions aren't too far off the deep end. Like the Toyota FT-1 concept, the GT4 Stinger's design was a product of California -- in this case, Kia's Irvine-based Design Center America.

Kia
Sure, the details are exaggerated -- just look at the shape of that steering wheel and those ultra-thin seats -- but the interior of the GT4 Stinger concept doesn't look too wild to see production in some form.

Under the hood you'll find some very sensible drivetrain components: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder puts out a believable 315 hp (Kia claims it's basically the same engine that's under the hood of its Optima race cars), which is channeled to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. One assumes an automatic transmission would be offered for those who are so inclined. Brembo Gran Turismo four-piston caliper brakes sit at all four wheels -- no fantastically unattainable carbon fiber setups for what is looking up to be a moderately priced enthusiast machine.

Kia claims that the GT4 Stinger will share very little with the marque's existing lineup. Its underpinnings are supposedly custom, featuring independent double-wishbone rear suspension. The car is deceptively compact with a wheelbase of just 103.1 inches and an overall length of 167.9 inches. Weight is 2,874 lbs.; Kia notes that it is almost perfectly balanced, with 52 percent up front and 48 in the rear.

Though it's substantially larger than the concept in every dimension, the Genesis Coupe built by corporate cousin Hyundai would be a logical jumping off point for the stylish 2+2. If it does make the leap to production in some form, the GT4 Stinger will certainly be an interesting counterpoint to the upcoming Kia K900 and serve as another sign that Kia's aggressive push into new market segments is showing no signs of abatement.

The North American International Auto Show, known to most as the Detroit auto show, continues to serve as a barometer for the entire industry. This year, we'll expect to see the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06, the 2015 Ford Mustang and the BMW M3 and M4. The 2014 Detroit auto show is held at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Mich. and is open to the public from Jan. 18-26.

By Graham Kozak