Kia Stinger Production Fades Into Sunset With Limited Tribute Edition

Kia is thanking the sedan for its “significant contribution to the brand” since 2017 with a farewell limited edition.

Just last year, all trims of the 2023 Kia Stinger received a power bump and slight refresh in a surprise twist-instead of dying soon, as most observers expected, the sporty model was sticking around for a couple more years. It was finally the 300-hp performance-oriented sedan people claimed it should have always been. Well, it would seem the reaper caught up with the rare fastback, as Kia has announced a limited somewhat final-sounding “Tribute Edition” to celebrate its relatively short time buzzing around Kia dealerships.

We liked the updated Stinger when we drove it, we just wish it had been available from the start with the proper amount of power. Who knows, maybe it would have caught on a little more. As it stands, according to carsalesbase.com, the Stinger has sold more than 57,580 units since it went on sale in 2017 for the 2018 model year.

That may not sound too shabby, but it’s evidently not enough to continue the Stinger, especially as newer, more efficient and more powerful electrified models like the new all-electric EV6 slide into the Stinger’s performance-oriented space.

The new 2023 Kia Stinger Tribute Edition begins with the GT specification featuring the more powerful 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 making 368 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. It’ll come in available Ascot Green or Moonscape matt grey paint options (the latter pictured here), with black-finished door mirrors and brake calipers, and 19-inch gloss black wheels rounding out the exterior look.

The interior will get bespoke Terracotta brown leather on the sport-designed seats, steering wheel, door trim and door handles. Those seats also get a newly-introduced wasp-shaped emblem embedded in the headrests in reference to the Stinger model name.

That’s all matched to carbon fiber trimmings on the upper console and door panels. The door sills will come with a numbered plate denoting the limited edition of just 1,000 global units. Pricing was not immediately announced; the standard Stinger GT2 V-6 model is listed at $51,790 on Kia’s website.

Author: Justin Westbrook
Source: MotorTrend.com