Kia has been spied testing what appears to be a mid-engined test mule equipped with the bodywork of a Stinger.
This mule was recently snapped in South Korea and immediately catches the eye not only because of the camouflage across its body but because of the thick body cladding across the rear. The cladding stretches back from the front doors and what’s particularly telling is the presence of side air intakes that are said to be feeding a mid-mounted engine sitting where the rear seats of the Stinger would normally be found.
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The Korean Car Blog which first published these photos from Pungtagi TV claims that this mule is equipped with a complex hydrogen powertrain that in addition to feature a fuel cell, also has a larger battery pack, and a combustion engine. All up, it apparently has around 650 hp to 700 hp, seriously impressive figures if true. The publication also claims that this is one of five mid-engined test mules built by Hyundai/Kia.
Image credits Pungtagi TV / The Korean Blog
So just what does Hyundai/Kia have up its sleeve? The most likely explanation is that we are looking at a test mule of the mid-engined sports car that Hyundai’s N division is thought to be developing. Previous mules have used the bodywork of the Hyundai Veloster and it’s unclear why a Stinger is now being used.
However, the mid-ship Hyundai N model had been expected to receive a new 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and it seems unlikely the automaker would want to launch a mid-engine sports car with a complex hydrogen powertrain like this mule.
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