The end is near for the Kia Stinger as the first Tribute Editions have arrived at U.S. dealerships. Only 440 will be available in America, out of 1,000 units globally, and they mark the end of the road for the liftback.
Pricing starts at $53,390 and climbs to $55,590 for the all-wheel drive variant, before the $1,175 destination fee is factored in. That’s not cheap, but the special edition is based on the well-equipped Stinger GT2 and features an Ascot Green or Steel Matte Gray exterior with exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels that feature a black finish. The model also sports black Brembo brake calipers, black side mirrors, and black exhaust tips.
More: Kia Ending Production Of The Stinger With Limited Tribute Edition
Moving into the cabin, there’s Terracotta Nappa leather seats, a synthetic suede headliner, and faux carbon fiber trim. Buyers will also find individually numbered door sill plates.
Since it’s based on the GT2 trim, the special edition should have a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster as well as a 10.25-inch infotainment system with GPS navigation as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Buyers can also expect to find heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and a 15-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. They should be joined by aluminum pedals, a wireless smartphone charger, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink.
Furthermore, the Tribute Edition should have Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist. Other safety features should include Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, High Beam Assist, Blind Spot Collision Warning, Safe Exit Warning, and a Surround View Monitor with a Blind View Monitor.
Power is provided by a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 engine that produces 368 hp (274 kW / 373 PS) and 376 lb-ft (509 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which enables the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in as little as 4.7 seconds.
Kia confusingly lists the car as a 2023 model on their website, which refers to it as a “GT2 Tribute Special Edition Package” that adds $1,500 onto the sticker price of the Stinger. Putting that aside, the company said “existing Kia customers and hand raisers will be among the first to be notified of the Stinger Tribute’s availability at dealers” as they “want to give our loyal customers a jump on the opportunity to own this ultra exclusive Stinger Tribute Edition.”
