Production of the Kia Stinger will allegedly end by the second quarter of 2022, leading to the death of one of the brand’s most beloved performance models.
Late last week, Kia is said to have released its production plans for all of its South Korea plants, including the Sohari Plant where the Stinger was built. The Korean Car Blog states that the automaker will cease production of the Stinger by the second quarter of 2022 and tweak the production line to begin building electrified models such as the Carnival Hybrid.
Driven: 2021 Kia Stinger 200S Doesn’t Feel Like A Base Model At All
There’s little doubt that following the Stinger’s launch in 2017, the South Korean car manufacturer really stepped up to a new level with its products. However, while the Stinger was well-received by members of the media and the public alike, it hasn’t sold in the numbers that Kia had originally hoped, fueling multiple rumors of its untimely demise in the past.
Earlier this year, the Kia Stinger was updated for the 2022 model year and just a few short months ago, U.S. sales of the refreshed model started. Now sitting at the base of the range is a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder variant producing 300 hp and 311 lb-ft (422 Nm) of torque that replaces the old 2.0-liter and has 45 hp and 51 lb-ft (69 Nm) of extra grunt. Those after more power can still buy the Stinger with a 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 rated at 368 hp and 376 lb-ft (510 Nm).
A special edition Stinger dubbed the Scorpion was unveiled at the start of June with unique wheels and some distinctive exterior trimmings. It is possible that other special edition Stinger models will hit the market before the car is axed.
Carscoops has reached out to Kia regarding this report and will update this story when we hear back.
