Kia’s been on a roll since Peter Schreyer took the helm and transformed the once lackluster Korean carmaker into a design-led company. But while its lineup is plentiful, there is no true sports car in the range. The GT4 Stinger concept set to make its debut at the 2014 NAIAS next week could point towards a possible future model that would fill that niche.
Created by the company’s California-based design team under the direction of Tom Kearns, the 2+2-seat rear-wheel-drive concept car takes some of Kia’s readily recognizable design elements and reinterprets them in a sportier way.
The ‘tiger nose’ grille, adapted to suit the sporting nature of the concept, is outlined in white and flanked by vertical LED headlamps, which are set very close to the ground. There’s no way they would sneak by legislation, but they look cool. Front-brake cooling vents funnel air around 20-inch wheels whilst a carbon fiber front splitter mounted below the bumper provides added downforce.
To ensure that the car not only looks the part but is also able to hold its own on the street and track, (as the press release alludes), the concept sources power from a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that’s said to churn out 315hp.
We’re looking forward to seeing the concept unveiled at Kia’s stand on January 13th.
