Jump to content
Create New...
  • Drew Dowdell
    Drew Dowdell

    Kia Builds One-Off Stinger GT420 Track Car

      ...Saved from the crusher to ride again...

    The first Kia Stinger in the UK, a homologation test car, was saved from the crusher.  As a pre-production car, it couldn't be sold to the public.  As it sat in Kia's headquarters showroom, the Product and Press relations team were scheming up ways to keep the HiChroma Red GT S.  After all, during its testing, it has racked up 10,000 miles, an unusually high amount for a test mule. 

    Instead of being sent to the crusher, Kia brought in an engineering team from Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The team upgraded the Twin Turbo V6 from 365 hp to 422 hp and peak torque from 376 lb-ft to 413 lb-ft.  They replaced the exhaust with a lightweight Milltek Sport exhaust with cats removed. An upgraded transmission cooler was added. and the transmission was recalibrated for quicker shifting in Sport and Sport+ mode. The team then "Added lightness" to the car by removal of all unneeded weight. Interior trim, airbags, engine cover, rear bumper beam were all removed. The rear windows were glued in place and lightweight door cards added.  After the needed safety equipment and underbody stiffening were installed, the net weight reduction came to about 331 lbs off the stock car. 

    Once the mechanical modifications were complete, the  team added a Stillen front splitter and a rear spoiler, and a body wrap that advertises the racing specs and the GT420 name. 

    There are no plans to build such a car from Kia, but it is an interesting study of what can be done with a car that is otherwise headed to the crusher. 

     

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    14 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    I was kinda hoping Kia would bring it over here for us journalists to try, but it is right-hand drive. ? 

    Having driven in Japan, it is really not that hard to drive a left or right-hand auto.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Just now, dfelt said:

    Having driven in Japan, it is really not that hard to drive a left or right-hand auto.

    Oh I wasn't worried about that... it would have to be track only anyway.  It's just that I doubt they'd bring it here for that reason. 

    • Thanks 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    20 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    I was kinda hoping Kia would bring it over here for us journalists to try, but it is right-hand drive. ? 

    Have you ever driven anything right-hand drive? 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    20 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    No

    We had some hacked up consumer vehicles turned into mail carriers come into the shop I worked at and I only drove them around the parking lot(for the final QC for torquing the lugnuts) and it's weird as hell. I'm sure it doesn't take long to get used to but it is such an odd feeling being on the "wrong" side of the vehicle. 

    • Haha 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 minute ago, ccap41 said:

    We had some hacked up consumer vehicles turned into mail carriers come into the shop I worked at and I only drove them around the parking lot(for the final QC for torquing the lugnuts) and it's weird as hell. I'm sure it doesn't take long to get used to but it is such an odd feeling being on the "wrong" side of the vehicle. 

    Yeah, I figure it would take a couple of laps on the track at slow speed to get used to it and then I could kick it up a notch. 

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Never had to do the manual RHD thing, but I recall doing the car "hire" in Barbados, was always turning on the wipers by accident when trying to signal.. Eventually I just stopped signalling most of them didn't signal down their anyways.  Was kind of fun, but the narrow roads and lack of lighting led me to stick to driving while the sun was up after the first night out.  Would love to visit again soon.

     

     

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • AWESOME Drew Congratulations on your Birthday, it is wonderful knowing you and how special you are to us. This is exciting for Rivian, good information on the R2 too. 2026 Rivian R2 Will Get New LG Cells With 'Six Times' The Capacity
    • Thank you very much.   For my birthday last year I got a gift card for a spa day package which I booked for my birthday this year. So I spent the day yesterday getting a facial and a massage and it was fantastic. Little did I know when I booked it how needed it would be.
    • Those that cannot accept a multi-cultural world and immigration deserve to lose everything. I will stay professional, but believe that our North American Economy is about to get far worse over the long term than it is now. It is amazing how people do not seem to realize that the first two years of a new president is dealing with the ramifications of the last president. The high inflation was due to the failed policies of those before. We now have low unemployment and a strong economy. Will be interesting to see how it ends.
    • I say, let it get worse.  The people have spoken and this is what the MAJORITY voted for.  He even got the popular vote.  Therefore the people of America have spoken.   This is what they want.  This is what they feel comfortable with.   But I dont want to hear ANY whining from ANYBODY about what possibly may happen with him Him in power.  Fool me once,  shame on you!  Fool me twice, shame on me?   Technically this is how that saying goes.  But you never know. Maybe it really IS the lefty libtards that are the problem.   Hopefully it IS the lefty libtards that are the problem and the Messiah Trump will BE the solution to ALL of our problems.   I will be the first one to apologize if He actually does fix America's and Canada's problems.  And unite ALL of the world and the world gets to sing Kumbaya ALL in unison. Hopefully He is the next coming of Christ.   Keeping my fingers crossed but I aint holding my breath if you know what I mean.   
    • @oldshurst442 This pretty much sums up just how bad it is going to get. Trump's economic plans would worsen inflation, experts say | AP News
  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search