Kia’s Design Boss Says Facelifted Stinger Coming Soon, Will Look Even Sportier

Kia is working on a facelifted Stinger and the company’s styling boss has revealed a few details about it.

Speaking to Top Gear, Karim Habib said the facelifted model is “coming pretty soon” and will have an assortment of changes as the company wanted to “strengthen a few things” and amplify its sportiness through design.

While Habib wouldn’t go into specifics, he did suggest we can expect new lighting units which have the “best technology.” That’s pretty vague, but the Stinger already offers LED head- and taillights as well as LED daytime running lights.

Also Read: 2021 Kia Stinger Facelift Tries To Hide Small Styling Changes Under Heavy Camo

Spy photographers have snapped the model on a handful of occasions and the changes appear petty minor. However, we can expect modified bumpers, restyled wheels and new lighting changes. Speculation also suggests there could be a new digital instrument cluster and an updated infotainment system.

The Stinger could also adopt a new turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 290 hp (216 kW / 294 PS) and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque. The engine will be offered in the Hyundai Sonata N-Line and is also slated to replace the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the Genesis G70.

As for the Stinger’s future, it doesn’t look too bright. However, Habib suggested the model could evolve “as the technology goes towards EVs and as the world and its appetite for these types of cars changes.” The designer went on to say he believes Kia needs something “sporty, affordable, [and] beautiful” in their lineup.

Of course, Stinger sales have been pretty modest as the company only sold 13,861 units in the United States last year. That’s not great, but the Stinger did outsell the Genesis G70 by nearly 2,000 units.