Kia News: Kia Stinger Could Boast Hybrid and Electric Powertrains

[William Maley]

Even though it was launched a week ago, there is already about possible powertrains for the Kia Stinger.

Spencer Cho, Kia’s overseas product marketing boss told Car and Driver that Stinger would benefit from the electrification options developed for the Optima, despite the different powertrain layouts - Optima uses a transverse layout, while the Stinger uses a longitudinal layout.

“We can utilize the currently available hybrid, plug-in-hybrid, and EV technology” for the Stinger’s benefit, said Cho.

While there are no immediate plans to do an electric Stinger, Cho said they could develop one very quickly. The development team behind the Stinger have considered this possibility and looked into ways to perform this change. One idea was to use transmission tunnel for battery storage.

“We don’t have any EV in the plan yet, but we have the capability to bring EVs in the near future if the demand is there, based on market reception. The global EV market is still small, but it is getting bigger and bigger due to CAFE in the U.S. and European emissions standards,” said Cho.

I have full confidence in our engineers and if we need the EV Stinger to come to light, our engineers can come up with ideas for putting the batteries into this vehicle.”

Source: Car and Driver
Pic Credit: NewspressUSA

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[G. David Felt]

EV and Hybrid should be in everyone's plans moving forward.

[ocnblu]

Not exactly a "boast", now is it?  LOL

[oldshurst442]

Id HEMI  swap this thing and call it a

 

I do see a flaw with KIA's thinking though.

The Stinger is KIA's answer for it to be a budget BMW 4Series Grand Sport, albeit less handly than the Bimmer but more GT cruiser than it as well. Which is fantastic thinking.

Where I see the problem is that BMW in the very near future will make its 3/4Series with hybrid electric power. As near of a future as 2018. Me thinks the Stinger should be available with hybrid electric technology as of now. At the very latest...2018...

Edited January 21, 2017 by oldshurst442

[smk4565]

You can turn just about anything into a hybrid so it makes sense to have it as an option.  The 2.0T with a hybrid system making like 300 hp seems like a no brainer.