Kia's R&D Boss Wants To Pick Up Where Nissan's GT-R Left Off

The last Nissan GT-R spent nearly 20 years giving Nissan something most mainstream brands didn't have. Specifically, it had supercar-like speed, killer looks, and it cost less than cars it outperformed. Then, in August of last year, it ended production without a direct successor, leaving a high-horsepower gap in the market. Based on new comments from Kia's R&D boss, it would love to be the brand that fills the gap.

Speaking to Autocar, Hyundai Motor Group R&D chief Manfred Harrer talked about the GT line and the potential for something above it. "I like the idea," says Harrer. "You see a lot of car makers going that way, so why not?," he said. Keep in mind, this is a guy who previously worked at BMW and Porsche. Performance machines at the top end of the segment are familiar to him. That said, his focus right now appears to be something between what Kia offers now and a GT-R-esque model.

"I'm more [minded] to first talk about a dedicated model showing what GT stands for," he says. In other words, the brand would like to cook up something that defines the GT badge for Kia. For years, that car was the Stinger, a RWD-based sedan that punched well above its weight. In recent years, it's been the EV6 GT with 641 hp (478 kW). Now, that particular trim is taking a break from the lineup, and it's clear that Kia has room to flex back into its performance aspirations.

The Nissan comparison is compelling because the R35 stood out both as a sports car in general and within the Nissan brand itself. Its twin-turbo V6, all-wheel-drive system, and continuous development helped build a reputation that survived a remarkably long production run. Kia could absolutely use that same sort of halo vehicle. The brand is already very successful, but what is its true flagship? Nobody questioned that of Nissan while the GT-R was still on sale.

That said, the brand is clearly trying to take a stair-step approach to the market. A dedicated GT car would give Kia that clear next step. It could also use it as a basis for turning up the performance, if buyers responded. Until now, it's mostly focused on very fast family cars. Building something that can make Porsche owners a little nervous is a different animal. Still, we can't help but hope that it happens.