Kia Stinger to stay in Australian showrooms for now, but future unclear

In Australia, the Kia Stinger twin-turbo V6 has filled the void left by Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon performance sedans. However, once this model reaches the end of the line, it’s unlikely there will be a successor, due to slower than expected sales globally.

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The Kia Stinger twin-turbo V6 sedan will remain available in Australia for the foreseeable future – and Kia dealers are still taking orders – however it is likely to be the first and last of its type.

Reports out of South Korea – and previous interviews with Kia executives at international motor shows – have indicated there will not be a successor to the Kia Stinger sedan, and it may eventually be replaced by an electric car of the same name.

Despite the Kia Stinger twin-turbo V6 filling the void left by Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon performance sedans in Australia – coincidentally arriving locally mid-2017, near the end of local car manufacturing – the vehicle has not met sales expectations in other markets.

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Indeed, Kia even sent a Stinger – decked out in Queensland Police livery (pictured above) – to a motor show in the US to try to drum-up some business with law enforcement there, to help boost sales.

But police agencies in the US didn’t take the bait – opting to stick with US-made sedans and SUVs.

As a result, the Kia Stinger remains a niche vehicle in most markets outside Australia.

Kia Australia says the vehicle remains on sale locally and it has not been advised of any end-of-production date.

“We’ve received no notification from head office when they will stop making the Stinger for us,” said Kia Australia boss Damien Meredith. “For us, it’s business as usual and we continue to sell the car.”

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Kia Australia says it will also continue to supply the Kia Stinger to police fleets who have them on order, such as those in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

West Australia has a small number of Kia Stingers and has recently supplemented its fleet with the Skoda Superb wagon.

“Whether or not there is a new model has not been announced,” said Mr Meredith. “The car is still available. We’ve got orders with police forces in Australia that we want to fulfil and we will fulfil. We are also still taking customer orders.”

Overseas reports claim the Kia Stinger may reach the end of the production line either later this year or some time next year, unless the company decides to extend its planned model cycle.

The Kia Stinger will have been in production for six years in 2022; the model cycle for most passenger vehicles is in the five- to seven-year range.

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